Posts

Dave

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

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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.

Intermodal journeys: Air Canada has increased air-to-rail connection options across Europe

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.

Paul

France – General Strike 10 September.

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This afternoon it has been reported that the national general strike by public sector workers in France is going ahead tomorrow.

It is now understood that air travel will be impacted, however, to what degree is as yet unknown. Eurocontrol reports that air traffic routes may be reduced by 20 percent depending on staffing, but that will depend on the situation that develops through tomorrow.

According to the Director of Operations, there may be delays in the Brest area as early as this evening (Monday 9th September). From tomorrow delays of 25 minutes to two hours should be expected in the areas controlled by towers around Bordeaux, Reims, Paris, Marseille and Brest.

There are likely to be air traffic restrictions at Paris-Orly, Lyn and Marseille. As always, our advice to to check in online for your flight and ensure that your email address and cell phone number is in your booking.

Eurostar’s services are unaffected. For more information on SNCF’s TGV services please check www.infolignes.com

Paul

French Industrial Action – Eurostar Services Unaffected.

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Further to our post below, regarding the SNCF industrial action later this week, please note that Eurostar services are unaffected. Further information concerning any possible onward journey on the French domestic rail network can be found at: www.infolignes.com

Paul

France – ATC & Rail Strikes This Week.

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French Air Traffic Control has announced industrial action between Tuesday 11th June and Thursday 13th June 2013.

As a result some flights will be disrupted, or cancelled, please contact us (GTM) if you are due to travel to France during the aforementioned dates. As always, please also ensure that you do check in online for your flight/s too.

Rail Europe are also advising that SNCF, France’s national railway company, will go on strike from 2000 CET on Wednesday 12th June, running through until 0800 on Friday 14th June. SNCF are advising that their normal timetable cannot be guaranteed during the disruption.