Air Canada is hoping to launch Boeing 787 flights to Cairo in June and is waiting for the necessary approvals.
Starting 17th June,2021, Air Canada will operate a nonstop flight between Montreal and Cairo 3-times-a-week. Operated by a Boeing B787-8, this marks 2nd new destination for the airline to the Middle East-North Africa region in a matter of months.
Service details
According to Media in Toronto, the flag carrier of Canada has confirmed that it will operate a seasonal flight to Egypt with an airline spokesperson issuing the following statement:
“We can confirm that Air Canada will operate a seasonal flight between Montreal and Cairo starting on June 17, with three flights a week on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.”
Though the news has yet to surface on the airline’s website or social media, the new service can be found on the airline’s booking engine on its website. We ran a search for a flight from Montreal to Cairo, departing 17th June,2021, and returning on the 25th, and found a non-stop service.
- Montreal-Cairo
- Departure time- 18:20
- Arrival time- 10:25 (the next day)
- Flight time- 10 hours and 5 minutes
- Flight number- AC74
- Cairo-Montreal
- Departure time- 12:00
- Arrival time- 17:00
- Flight time- 11 hours
- Flight number- AC75
Pending government approval
It looks like the service is not yet set in stone despite appearing on the airline’s search results. In fact, there is one rather unique note at the top of the flight search results after selecting this non-stop service, which reads:
“Tickets for flights AC74 and AC75 between Montréal (YUL) and Cairo (CAI) are sold subject to government approval.”
Connecting Canada to MENA
It looks like Air Canada is looking to expand its network in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. It was just last month that we saw the airline commence its Toronto-Doha service.
These two new services will add to Air Canada’s existing direct flights to the region, which include Toronto to Dubai and Tel Aviv, as well as Montreal to Algiers and Casablanca.
While several airlines from United States offer direct flights to Israel and Morocco, Air Canada’s services to Dubai and Doha make it the only North American carrier to serve the countries of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). With Star Alliance partner EgyptAir already operating a service between Cairo and Toronto, this new seasonal service should complement it rather than become competition.
What do you think of Air Canada’s expansion into Middle East North Africa region with the launch of flights to Cairo? Let us know in the comments section below.
IH Aviation and Travel 