AIR Canada has launched its new direct route between Edinburgh Airport and the city of Montreal.
The summer seasonal route is the only direct service between Scotland and Montreal and is the airline's second route between Edinburgh and Canada, with Scottish holidaymakers able to travel to Toronto.
The service between the Scottish capital and Montreal will operate three times a week until September 7, while the daily Toronto service will operate until October 25.
Minister for Connectivity Jim Fairlie welcomed the new route, saying Scotland has “longstanding and deep-rooted ties with Canada”.
He said: “I am pleased to welcome the launch of Air Canada’s new service between Edinburgh and Montréal, further strengthening our direct links to Canada.
“Scotland has longstanding and deep-rooted ties with Canada, and this new service will help grow the economic benefits of our tourism sector and provide additional connectivity for business to the Canadian market.
“I wish Air Canada every success with their new Montreal service and welcome their continued commitment to the Scottish market in a highly competitive environment.”
Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, said there is “strong interest” in holidaymakers from around the world in Scotland and hopes the new service will allow Canadian tourists the opportunity to visit the country.
He said: “We – or should I say oui – are delighted to welcome our guests from Montréal to Scotland’s capital, giving them the opportunity to experience everything our fantastic city has to offer.
“We know there is strong interest in Scotland around the world, and Canada remains one of our key markets for both inbound and outbound tourism. That’s why it makes perfect sense to make travel between our countries as seamless as possible by adding more direct connections.
“We have an excellent relationship with Air Canada, and we’re both thrilled to see two of those iconic tailfins at Edinburgh Airport.”
Rocky Lo, Air Canada’s managing director of International Sales, added: “We are thrilled to be taking to the skies with our latest transatlantic route from the Scottish capital to our home hub, Montreal, just in time for summer.
“Edinburgh is an important destination for Air Canada, thanks to the strong cultural ties between Scotland and Canada, so we are proud to be solidifying our presence in the market with the new route, working with our partners at Edinburgh Airport.
“As the only airline connecting these two iconic cities, initial demand for the route has already been strong, and we expect interest to grow even further in the coming months, as leisure and business travellers plan their last-minute summer trips.”
