Final week, we realized extra particulars about a few of Air Canada’s future plans for its fleet by way of an article posted on Government Traveller. Within the article, Air Canada’s executives hinted at some upcoming modifications to lounges and different points of the customer-facing expertise, too.
This week, Government Traveller has revealed one other article, by which there are extra particulars about Air Canada’s future plans for its Maple Leaf Lounges, Signature Suites, and Air Canada Cafés.
Air Canada to Open 4 New Lounges
By an interview with Air Canada executives posted to Government Traveller, new particulars have been launched about Air Canada’s plans to open new lounges, and to renovate and increase a few of its current Maple Leaf Lounges.
One of the noteworthy elements of the interview is that Air Canada has plans to open 4 new lounges within the subsequent few years.
The primary lounge, about which there aren’t many particulars, is about to open in Summer season 2023 in Toronto.
Based on Mark Nasr, Air Canada’s Government Vice President of Advertising and Digital, this lounge will observe a brand new mannequin that hasn’t been utilized in any of the airline’s present lounges.
Within the article, Government Traveller studies that the lounge could have the next:
- Capability for as much as 133 visitors
- A cold and hot buffet
- Seize-and-go choices
- A bar
- Assembly rooms
Ought to this new mannequin achieve success, it may very well be rolled out to different lounges in Air Canada’s community in some unspecified time in the future down the road.
In some methods, it sounds fairly acquainted to what’s supplied on the Air Canada Café in Toronto; nevertheless, additional particulars of this new lounge are anticipated within the close to future, and we’ll be higher in a position to evaluate them then.
Subsequent up is a brand-new Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Terminal 2 at San Francisco Worldwide Airport. This lounge is about to open in June 2023, and could have room for over 120 visitors.
Of be aware, the brand new San Francisco lounge will even characteristic an outside house, and is designed in such a manner as “to really feel uniquely San Francisco”.
The following lounges which might be set to open are a rollout of the Air Canada Café idea to Montreal (YUL) and Vancouver (YVR).
The primary new Air Canada Café is about to open in Montreal in 2024, after which one other will come to Vancouver in 2025.
Much like the Air Canada Café in Toronto, the Montreal idea will characteristic barista-pulled espresso and fresh-pressed juices, in addition to a variety of lighter grab-and-go meals that may both be consumed within the lounge or onboard. It’s not clear whether or not or not the Montreal lounge will even characteristic craft beer, because it does in Toronto.
The Vancouver Air Canada Café is reported to have a brand new evolution of the idea, and will probably be designed as extra of a “fashionable café coworking house”.
Air Canada studies that the Air Canada Café idea has been well-liked amongst travellers, and it’s nice to see it being deliberate at different main Canadian hubs.
Air Canada to Revamp Current Lounges
Within the interview posted on Government Traveller, Nasr additionally alluded to the upcoming enlargement and renovation of a few of Air Canada’s current lounges.
First off, Air Canada is including a mean of 30% extra seating to the prevailing home Maple Leaf Lounges in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.
There have already been some studies on-line about furnishings being moved round throughout the lounges, and new kinds of furnishings being put in that caters to extra visitors. It’s possible that the elements of the lounges that have been beforehand separate enterprise centres are going to be modified to permit for extra capability.
Any enhance in capability might also assist to handle among the crowding points that travellers have confronted within the latest previous. Final fall, Air Canada debuted a separate line for Tremendous Elites, which permits them to skip to the entrance of the road for precedence entry; nevertheless, different passengers are sometimes subjected to queues throughout peak instances at some lounges.
Air Canada can also be set to extend the capability on the Signature Suite in Toronto to permit for extra visitors. Since entry to this lounge is restricted to paid worldwide enterprise class tickets (and Enterprise Class (Versatile) Aeroplan redemptions), this possible alerts that there’s a sturdy demand for the premium lounge, and Air Canada is transferring to handle this.
Other than these identified expansions, Air Canada will even be renovating and increasing different lounges all through Canada and in key worldwide markets over the following three years or so. The one worldwide lounge talked about within the article is in London Heathrow; nevertheless, it’s possible that different lounges will even see a refresh.
It’s price noting that Air Canada is anticipating to start taking supply of its Airbus A321XLR plane in 2025, and as a part of the rollout, there will probably be a brand new design normal mirrored each onboard and all through the bottom expertise.
It’s possible that lounge renovations will probably be in line with the brand new design, which is able to point out the longer term route Air Canada goes with its model.
Conclusion
By an interview posted on Government Traveller, new particulars have been shared about Air Canada’s plans to open 4 new lounges within the coming years. We additionally now know that the airline plans to increase a few of its Canadian lounges by a mean of 30% within the close to future, and also will renovate and increase different lounges within the coming years.
The primary new lounges are set to open in Toronto and San Francisco this summer season, and it is going to be fascinating to see if any new parts are integrated into their design. From there, the Air Canada Café idea will increase to Montreal and Vancouver in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
As the brand new lounges open, we’ll be sure you present critiques, which can make clear the route Air Canada’s model is headed within the coming years.
