We are pleased to sit down with Vincent Gauthier-Doré, Senior Director USA Sales at Air Canada based in NewYork City, for an update on Air Canada.

Q. Please describe your role at Air Canada and the work of your team in the U.S.

In a few words, I am responsible, with my team, for developing the US market for Air Canada. Our main focus is to maintain our leadership position on the transborder market (US to Canada) and develop Vancouver, Toronto and Montréal as international hubs, connecting US customers to our international network via Canada. To achieve that, we have a multidisciplinary team in the US interacting with corporate customers, travel agencies and the business community.

I must add that we have a very competitive connecting product for our US customers. We call it ACTransit. When traveling from the US to our international destinations, the transit process at Vancouver, Toronto or Montréal is seamless: everything is in one terminal, checked bags do not need to be picked up and there is the benefit of pre-clearing US CBP on the returning trip, while connecting in Canada. As a Canadian, I am very proud to see thousands of Americans choosing Air Canada for their international journeys. It gives US customers more choice and allows Canadian communities to be connected by air to more international cities. Finally, I would like to remind everyone that, despite the current border restrictions in Canada, same day connections from the US to our international destinations is still permitted.

Q. Air Canada has pivoted to support cargo needs using aircraft originally designed for passenger travel? Can you talk to the scope of cargo work that has been supported this way?

Correct – at the onset of the pandemic in North America, passenger travel demand plummeted while demand for moving cargo goods was growing. Air Canada is a large company, but still very entrepreneurial. We’ve always moved cargo in the belly of the aircrafts. So, AC Cargo got creative and we are now able to use the passenger space of some aircraft by converting them to “all cargo” aircraft. This was very innovative. With the help of our maintenance partner in Mirabel Québec, Avianor, we converted some Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 for new cargo missions. We now have all cargo aircraft flying every day to Los Angeles, Asia and Europe. We are open to review any special demand for customized cargo flights. We even converted Bombardier Dash 8-400 aircraft to carry small packages. This whole initiative allowed Air Canada to be an active participant in providing life-saving PPE to many communities in Canada and around the world.

Q. What strengths has Air Canada drawn upon to navigate the current economic situation and the impact on your industry and your company?

Our executive team has worked diligently over the past decade to ensure we have a solid balance sheet and enough liquidity. I think this is key for any airline to weather the current storm. We had some flexibility with our fleet with fully unencumbered assets which allowed us to adapt our fleet. Specifically retiring the Embraer 190 and Boeing 767 from the fleet in the past few weeks.

Our people and partners in the travel industry are working tirelessly at informing our customers about our growing schedule, new route map and all the industry leading measures we are taking to make travel safer than ever. This will be instrumental in our recovery.

Q. What changes will passengers see when they fly their next Air Canada flight?

I think the biggest change will definitely be the health and biosafety protocol measures that have been put in place to support a safe experience for our employees and passengers. You’ll see initiatives such as passenger temperature checks and a requirement for everyone to wear face coverings. Air Canada was the first airline in North America to recommend a face covering and that will likely look and feel very different the first time you travel. And I’d like to add that before every flight each aircraft undergoes a stringent cleaning process. We named this entire process Air Canada CleanCare+ and really feel it will make customers feel comfortable to start travelling again.

Q. What do you want to say to a business or leisure traveler about returning to air travel again?

We understand that not everyone will be ready to travel at the same time. When you’re ready, we will be waiting. But as for me, travel is so much a way of life. It’s a testament to the airline industry when you see how many years many of us have working in this space. It’s a testament of our passion to explore and visit with friends and relatives around the globe. It’s no secret my bag has been packed for 2 months and I’m ready for takeoff.

Q. The USMCA Trade Agreement will be activated on July 1st, which is Canada’s birthday as a nation. What impact do you foresee on commercial air travel based on having the updated trade agreement being implemented?

I think the USMCA Trade Agreement will be great for air travel. Air travel is an export. And speaking to the demographics of this publication it’s no secret how strong the trade relationship is between Southern California (SoCal) and Canada. We want to find unique ways to support that business niche. We can have a joint celebration to honour the signing of the USMCA and Canada Day. It’s time to travel.

Q. MAPLE is launching a chapter in New York and has been active for 5 years in Southern California since our founding. Can you comment on Air Canada’s commitment to these markets and what travelers in these regions might expect in the coming months?

I’d like to start by saying I’m now located in New York. We now have an office in the city which we officially took possession of in January 2020. I think that shows how strong our commitment is to the market and how important our involvement is. We are looking to further engage the business community in unique ways to support trade. We will be proud members of the New York chapter. I look forward to finding ways to support. New York and the Greater Los Angeles area are the cities with the largest Canadian Expat communities, and I look forward to further leveraging ways to support each other as we all begin to reopen in this new environment.

Q. On a personal note, what does “Fly the Flag” mean to you as an Air Canada executive?

To me, as a Canadian living in the US, it means connecting both our countries and supporting trade. It means cultural connections in our communities. It means bringing people with the class and care Canadians are known for together towards a common goal. Nothing makes me prouder than seeing the maple leaf in airports in the US and around the world.

Thank you.