CanadaB次元官网网址檚 largest airline thinks Nanaimo is the ideal market for brand-new type of aircraft itB次元官网网址檚 expecting to receive later this year.

Air Canada Rouge is set to launch non-stop seasonal service from Nanaimo to Toronto beginning on July 1 using a 136-seat Airbus A319 configured with premium economy and economy seating.

Beyond that, Nanaimo is the B次元官网网址減erfectB次元官网网址� market for the Airbus A220, said Ferio Pugliese, senior vice-president of Air Canada Express and government relations, speaking to business people during an event hosted by the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

B次元官网网址淰ery likely, youB次元官网网址檒l see this aircraft here,B次元官网网址� Pugliese said, adding that the A220 is a good fit for Nanaimo because its speed, range and efficiency allows Air Canada to operate in smaller markets more regularly on a year-round basis.

The Airbus A220 B次元官网网址� previously Bombardier C-Series B次元官网网址� is a Canadian-developed single-aisle aircraft that is extremely fuel-efficient and has a range of more than 5,000 kilometres. Air Canada has ordered 45 Airbus A220-300s, formerly known as the CS300, and is expecting to take delivery of the aircraft later this year.

Whether Air Canada will make the Nanaimo-Toronto route year-round in the near future is unclear but Pugliese said the airline is impressed with the continued growth of the Nanaimo region.

B次元官网网址淭o see this market grow into the neighbourhood of 300,000 to 350,000 is remarkable because it certainly wasnB次元官网网址檛 there five to six years ago,B次元官网网址� he said.

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Pugliese said Air Canada has noticed an increase in business and leisure travellers coming through the Harbour City in recent years. He said if the demand continues and the market exists, there is nothing stopping Air Canada from making Nanaimo-Toronto service year-round.

B次元官网网址淟oad factors have been healthy but what we do know is that once you launch a seasonal service B次元官网网址� over time the awareness kicks in and the demand continues to grow,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭here is potential for those to go all year round, but we take it incrementally.B次元官网网址�

Although Pugliese couldnB次元官网网址檛 confirm whether Air Canada would place the Airbus A220 on a Nanaimo route or when that could happen, he said the A220 has far better economics than other aircraft.

B次元官网网址淲ith the right aircraft, the economics get improved which allow you to run it through the year and still get a decent return and that is flexibility the A220 offers,B次元官网网址� he said.

Ferio Pugliese, senior VP of Express & Government Relations, now speaking. Says the airline has more than 400 routes. Says lots of growth lately in the US market.

B次元官网网址� Nicholas M Pescod (@npescod)