Air Canada wins top billing for business travellers
A hotel by the airport, or one downtown? Rent a car, or expense rideshares? Take the client to a game, or jet home for dinner with the family? Today’s discerning business traveller has more options than ever. For airlines, providing a top quality travel experience with excellent service is the prerequisite—it takes a little more to stand out from the crowd.
At Air Canada, the only Skytrax Four-Star, full-service international carrier in North America, earning the loyalty of business class travellers is a serious business.
“As the only Canadian airline offering Business Class service on domestic and transborder flights, we are constantly striving to elevate our premium experience with new innovative product ideas” says Andrew Yiu, Vice President, Product, Air Canada. “We know our customers have different needs, and we try to cater to them, whether it’s through our investment in Wi-Fi, allowing business travellers to remain connected in-flight, our new premium seats on the 737MAX, providing better seat comfort for relaxation, or our new Maple Leaf Lounges with enhanced amenities opening up throughout the continent.”
Winner of the 2018 Skytrax Best Business Class in North America award, the airline’s end-to-end premium travel experience leaves no detail spared. Long lines in the terminal? No problem. Premium travellers can breeze through check-in and security before making a beeline for one of Air Canada’s twenty airport lounges located in North America. The airline’s recently renovated Maple Leaf Lounges at New York’s LaGuardia and St. John’s International airport are highlights; comfortable, well-appointed spaces where travellers can work or simply snatch a few moments of peace and quiet with some food and drinks from the self-service buffet and bar before enjoying priority boarding.
As the national carrier, every aspect of Air Canada’s premium service is designed to evoke the country’s reputation for glowing-hearted hospitality. And the detail-focused North America Business Class onboard experience is no exception.
A delightful in-flight food menu conceived especially for premium travellers features international-inspired dishes, accompanied by a wine list handpicked by top Canadian sommelier, Véronique Rivest. After enjoying dinner and a drink, those looking to maximize travel time can continue working from the comfort of their seat. Air Canada offers business class customers inflight and subscription-based Wi-Fi on most aircraft to ensure they can stay connected at all times. Conveniently, every seat also has its own power source. And for travellers who’d rather sit back and relax, Air Canada provides dedicated seat-back in-flight entertainment. Business travellers can enjoy up to 600 hours of programming that includes a wide range of new movie releases and a curated selection of films in up to 15 languages, in addition to music, podcasts, radio, audiobooks and destination guides.
These unmatched offerings are a testament to Air Canada’s commitment to the highest level of service, which continues to win plaudits: in 2018 the airline won the Skytrax Best Airline in North America award, based on a survey of 20 million global travellers, for the seventh time in nine years, along with the Best Business Class in North America award. And Air Canada isn’t resting on its laurels, continually working to please and earn the trust of its customers with a premium offering that delivers on and anticipates their expectations.
“While Air Canada is now recognized by customers as North America’s best airline, we are continually looking for opportunities to improve the product for our customers,” Yiu says. “We are extremely proud to offer our Business Class premium product on flights connecting Canada’s main commerce centers, as well as to and from key markets in the United States, as a reflection of our commitment to making business travel something to look forward to.”