Air Canada has announced a significant expansion in services between Canada and Israel, with the introduction of a seasonal non-stop service between Montreal and Tel Aviv and an increase in its current Toronto-Tel Aviv non-stop service to a daily frequency year-round. With the new services beginning this summer-a 28 per cent capacity increase over summer 2016-Air Canada will be the airline offering the most seats and frequencies between Canada and Israel.

“This new service also reflects Air Canada’s ongoing international expansion strategy, from which Montreal is deriving significant benefits. This month Air Canada will launch new service to Shanghai from the city and for next summer we have already announced new routes to Algiers, Marseille, Reykjavík and Dallas from Montreal,” said Rovinescu.

“In the same week as the inauguration of a non-stop Air Canada service to Shanghai, it is with pride today that we welcome a new international link with Tel Aviv,” said Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal. “This important investment demonstrates the vitality of our city and Montreal’s relevance as a North American aviation hub. This new air link by Air Canada will facilitate travel and trade between our two cities and countries. Coming only a few months after Montreal’s trade mission to Israel, this new route is a concrete example of the strength of the economic, family and community ties that unite us.”

Toronto’s current service will increase this summer to daily from six days a week, while the new Montreal-Tel Aviv service will operate twice weekly from June 22 to Oct. 16, 2017. The Montreal flight will be operated with a 292-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft with three cabins of service, including Air Canada’s international business class cabin, featuring 27 executive pods with 180-degree lie-flat seats all configured for direct aisle access.

All flights are timed for convenient connections with Air Canada’s extensive domestic and transborder network.

Tickets for the new Montreal-Tel Aviv service will be available for sale beginning Feb. 15, 2017, subject to final government approval.