Release date: 
Sunday, June 1, 2008

Today marks the much anticipated launch of Air Canada’s direct, daily service between Ottawa and Frankfurt, Germany.

At approximately 5:00 p.m., the Ottawa International Airport Authority’s firefighters provided a spectacular send-off for the inaugural flight to Frankfurt with a water arch over the Boeing
767-300 aircraft. Guests were treated to refreshments and commemorative gifts to celebrate the new route.

Paul Benoit, Ottawa Airport Authority President and CEO, was particularly pleased. “Today’s inaugural flight represents the culmination of a significant amount of work on the part of the Airport Authority, the business community and our partners at Air Canada”. He went on to say that “this flight makes the world more available to our community and Ottawa much more accessible to the rest of the world. Air Canada has shown tremendous confidence in this market, and we appreciate not only their support but the economic impact that this new service will have in the National Capital Region”.

Air Canada has recognized the strength of the Ottawa-Gatineau market in recent months by adding new services and additional frequencies to existing routes. Since October 2007,
Air Canada has added year-round flights from Ottawa to Fredericton, Moncton, St. John’s, Charlottetown, Thunder Bay, Saskatoon, Washington-Reagan, and now Frankfurt.

“Air Canada, in cooperation with its Star Alliance partner Lufthansa, is pleased to offer residents of the National Capital Region more travel choices with this new, non-stop service between Ottawa and the global transport hub of Frankfurt. This summer, Air Canada has increased its Ottawa service 19 per cent over the previous year, demonstrating its commitment to the region. Our expansion is also a testament to the Ottawa International Airport Authority’s success in providing the efficient transportation infrastructure needed to sustain such growth, which benefits business and leisure travellers, as well as freight forwarders, by connecting to the National Capital Region and the world,” said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada.

The Ottawa-Frankfurt schedule is as follows:

Departs Ottawa at 17:10, arrives Frankfurt at 06:30 the following day.
Departs Frankfurt at 14:15, arrives Ottawa at 16:45

OMCIAA operates Ottawa International Airport without government subsidies under a 60-year lease transfer agreement with Transport Canada. The OMCIAA’s mandate is to manage, operate and develop airport facilities and lands in support of the economic growth of the National Capital Region.