Air Canada adds Barcelona, Athens to seasonal routes

Air Canada will be adding Athens and Barcelona to its route map for non-stop seasonal service next year, the latest in a series of moves to selectively deploy aircraft. Athens and Barcelona are key ports of call, serving as jump-off points to other sites in Greece and Spain, said Ben Smith, Air Canada's chief commercial officer. He said Air Canada will be offering 220 economy seats on Boeing 767 aircraft, with another 24 "enhanced" seats at the front of the cabin available at attractive price points for leisure travellers seeking more legroom. The service will run from June 3 to Oct. 18, with flights departing from Montreal and Toronto. Mr. Smith said Air Canada is keeping three older Boeing 767s longer than anticipated, deploying them in various leisure markets. The carrier is keen to strengthen ties with cruise lines and other vacation partners, he added. AC.B (TSX) fell 1 cent to $1.70.