Intermodal ingenuity: Air Canada unveils air-to-rail connections across Europe

Air Canada has unveiled an innovative air-to-rail booking option, enhancing the travel experience for its customers connecting at European airports.

This initiative allows passengers seamlessly to book onward rail trips, providing convenient access to a multitude of destinations in France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

The move reflects Air Canada’s commitment to enriching the travel experience, promoting sustainability and creating intermodal hubs.

Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada, emphasised the airline’s dedication to providing more than just flights. He said,

In offering easy onward airport connections with the national rail systems in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, we are creating intermodal hubs and opening the door for customers to reach stations at major cities and popular destinations throughout these countries

Through partnerships with Lufthansa Express Rail Product, AccesRail and WorldTicket, Air Canada passengers can seamlessly book rail travel when purchasing their flights.

This collaboration allows a streamlined booking process, connecting Air Canada flights with trains operated by renowned rail systems, including France’s TGV-SNCF Voyageurs, Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, Swiss Federal Railways, and Austria’s ÖBB.

The European intermodal initiative not only simplifies the booking process but also offers added convenience.

Passengers can check in for all segments of their journey before departure, eliminating the need to obtain a train ticket at the station. In the event of any flight disruption, Air Canada ensures rebooking for both air and rail segments, providing peace of mind to travellers.

• France: Customers can now purchase a single ticket connecting them at France’s Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris to up to 22 SNCF Voyageurs high-speed rail destinations across France, including Nantes, Bordeaux, Marseille, and Strasbourg.
• Germany: Expanding on existing intermodal rail connections with Lufthansa Express Rail, Air Canada now provides access to over 5,600 railway stations across Germany using Deutsche Bahn’s Rail and Fly products from Frankfurt and Munich. Codeshare on the German rail is set to launch in 2024 via the Lufthansa express rail product.
• Switzerland: Travellers flying to Zurich or Geneva on Air Canada can connect at the airport to Swiss Federal Railways trains, reaching up to 11 stations throughout Switzerland, including popular destinations like Basel and Lucerne.
• Austria: ÖBB services are now available from Vienna airport, connecting to up to nine railway stations across Austria, including Linz, Salzburg, and Innsbruck.

This strategic expansion aligns with Air Canada’s goal of providing travel choices for customers.

The airline’s partnership portfolio has doubled over the past decade, with 39 codeshares, 120 interline agreements and four intermodal rail options. With an extensive network, Air Canada is making thousands of exciting destinations easily accessible.

Air Canada encourages its customers to embrace the new intermodal offering, putting thousands of exciting destinations within easy reach while offering sustainable travel options to major European destinations.

For details of all Air Canada flights and for rail bookings in the UK, Canada, Europe, North America and elsewhere, contact your Global Travel Account Manager.