Winter 2012/13 Top tips for winter travel pics

VINTAGE CUBA Win Air Canada flights to Havana WELCOME THE CHECK IN INTERVIEW

This has been a remarkable summer. World Airline Awards, which are Not only have we celebrated the based on a survey of more than 75th anniversary of Air Canada, 18 million passengers worldwide. we have also played our part in The awards are regarded in the 40 years of teamwork welcoming the Olympic Games to aviation industry as a key London; helping Heathrow to provide benchmarking tool for airline Robert Atkinson, General Manager – Sales UK, Ireland and Northern Europe celebrates great service to customers during passenger satisfaction levels. the busiest period in its history. As 40 years at Air Canada this year. Check In catches up with the man himself... the Official Airline of the Canadian This winter, Air Canada will continue Olympic and Paralympic Teams, to offer more daily flights from the Today Robert Atkinson is the General What’s changed the most? benefit customers with integrated we were in the privileged position UK to Canada than any other airline, Manager – Sales UK, Ireland and I guess technology is the biggest pricing, a wider route network and of welcoming Canadian athletes with up to 63 non-stop flights per Northern Europe, but 40 years ago change. 40 years ago we flew DC8s common administration. onboard Air Canada and flying them week to seven major Canadian cities. he started his career at Air Canada on and today we fly the Boeing 777. to London – very fuel efficiently as We will operate up to four flights the ticket desk, when life in the airline Environmental efficiency is where great What’s your funniest moment? you will see on page 7. per day to Toronto, daily flights to industry was quite another world. advances are currently being made in There used to be a woman in her 70s Montréal, Calgary, Vancouver and Check In spoke with Robert about the industry. This summer we trialled who would regularly come into the Last year we served more than Ottawa, as well as four flights per his experiences: our first biofuel flights and we expect central London ticket office adamantly 33 million customers worldwide week to Halifax and three flights to take delivery of the game-changing claiming that Pierre Trudeau, the making us one of the world’s biggest per week to Edmonton. What was flying like 40 years ago? Boeing 787 Dreamliner in 2014. Canadian Prime Minister at the time, Flying was an adventure – crossing had bought an airline ticket for her to airlines and we like to think also one the Atlantic was a ‘once in a lifetime’ What’s been your greatest challenge? collect. Suffice to say, our records didn’t of the best. For a third consecutive I hope you enjoy this edition of experience and now it is an every day The merger with Canadian Airlines. We support this. year, Air Canada was ranked among Check In and we look forward to Robert Atkinson General Manager – Sales UK, occurrence. had to integrate two companies into the top global carriers in the Skytrax welcoming you onboard soon. Ireland and Northern Europe First class passengers would enjoy one with a fresh agenda rather than an And have you had any time for a a seven course meal with champagne amalgamation of the two; which personal life? and caviar – they ate their way across turned out to be a great success. Absolutely – I’m married to Jenny and the Atlantic. Nowadays, of course, we have three ‘kids’ and one grandchild. Executive First customers can still enjoy What has been your greatest My private life used to involve INSIDE a glass of champagne, fine cuisine and achievement? chauffeuring the kids when they were sleep on our lie-flat beds. Helping to bring about the A++ Joint teenagers and being CEO of the ‘bank INTERVIEW << NEWS FEATURE Venture in the UK between Air Canada, of mum and dad’! Now they’re grown 03 04 06 United Airlines and the Lufthansa up, Jenny and I have time to plan Group. By establishing a genuine activities and enjoy our spare time. 40 years of More inflight fun, An Olympic feat partnership, we have been able to teamwork In conclusion? Link to Aer Lingus, Aviation is a dynamic and fast- 900 new staff changing industry that has come a long way. Air Canada continues to be a world-leading carrier with a network INSIGHT which spans the globe. It is great to 08 NETWORK 10 >> 12 HORIZON work with such a fantastic team and that is what makes it special. Montréal: culture International Top tips for at its heart routes winter travel pics

Check In is designed and 15 COMPETITION >> 16 SCHEDULE produced for Air Canada by Johnston Associates Air Canada’s UK colleagues (johnstonassociates.org) and Win two tickets Air Canada flights izio design ltd (iziodesign.co.uk). paid tribute to Robert to Havana, Cuba and connections ‘Bob’ Atkinson, with a Cover image: El Capitolio, surprise party Havana, Cuba by Niko Guido. at the UK offices

02 Winter 2012/13 Winter 2012/13 03 NEWS

More inflight fun Air Canada customer Terriann Clarkstone, who works for international Olympic corporate services provider HRG, was at your fingertips an Olympic Torchbearer in Winchester Air Canada has expanded the selection on its award-winning on 11 July. Air Canada are proud to work hosts In-flight Entertainment System, to offer customers twice as with Terriann, who was chosen for her Air Canada hosted American Express, many films to choose from. Now everyone has free access contribution to charity. In this photo a key travel management client, to a menu of up to 150 movies designed to suit all tastes, of Terriann with the Olympic Torch, at the London 2012 Olympics and ranging from the latest Hollywood blockbuster to classic she is joined by Andrew Edmonds, had the opportunity to watch Team art house and international films. Air Canada now offers Air Canada (left) and Sam Gillespie GB’s Lawrence Clarke and Andy customers up to 600 hours of digital entertainment from United Airlines (right). Turner qualify for the Men’s 110m available on-demand. Hurdles semi-finals in the Olympic Stadium. SUPPORTING THE TORCH Pictured from left to right: Denise Bridgeman, Air Canada; Richard Moseley, American Express; Laurence Griffiths, American Express. No. 1 for skiing This winter, Air Canada will continue to offer daily non-stop service to some of the world’s largest, highest and most snow-sure ski destinations. Leading resorts such as Whistler (via Vancouver), Banff and Lake Louise (via Calgary) and Tremblant (via Montréal) are only a flight away. Air Canada ranks Canadian and Irish top for third year running Air Canada was Fleet plan for flag carriers team up named the ‘Best Air Canada and Aer Lingus International international growth have signed an interline Airline in North agreement to make flying America’ in the Air Canada recently unveiled a fleet between Ireland and Canada 2012 Skytrax World plan which will enable it to introduce Airline Awards. In more convenient year-round. what was termed “a new international services. The The agreement is a remarkable repeat airline is adding two new Boeing 777- preliminary step toward a full code sharing success”, it is the 300ER aircraft to its fleet in June and relationship expected to be finalised next year. third consecutive September 2013 and will introduce Customers now benefit from the additional year Air Canada has the first 787 Dreamliners in 2014. Air ranked among the flexibility and ease offered by the availability of a top global carriers Canada also plans to launch a low- single electronic ticket, the use of both carriers’ in the awards, cost leisure airline in June 2013, check-in kiosks and the ability to through-check which surveyed more offering flights from Canada to their baggage to their final destination. than 18 million popular holiday destinations in The new agreement complements Air Canada’s passengers Europe and the Caribbean. ONLINE TRAVEL TRAINING – worldwide. Dublin-Toronto summer service, making it easy Details of Air Canada’s new to fly year-round between Ireland and Canada via international services and low-cost WE HAVE A WINNER! convenient connections through London Heathrow, leisure airline will be announced in Kerry Snow of Carlson Wagonlit won a pair of where Air Canada serves up to eight major Canadian the coming months. economy tickets from London Heathrow to Toronto cities. Aer Lingus operates a total of 23 flights daily with accommodation for three nights at the to London Heathrow from Dublin, Belfast, Cork Thompson Toronto hotel, courtesy of Air Canada. and Shannon. AIR CANADA TO HIRE 900 NEW STAFF Kerry was entered into a prize draw after ACROSS NETWORK Air Canada will hire more than successfully completing all five modules of the Air 900 employees over the next 12 months to meet its planned Canada Online Travel Training programme. workforce requirements. In addition, 200 new jobs will be created Pictured from left to right: Jay Balra, Utell Hotels for flight attendants and pilots at the airline’s low cost carrier & Resorts; Kerry Snow, Carlson Wagonlit Heathrow; that will be launched in June 2013. Denise Bridgeman, Air Canada

04 Winter 2012/13 Winter 2012/13 05 THE CHECK IN FEATURE Silver-medalist kayaker Adam Van Koeverden with Air Canada’s Ray and Jo Keates

Olympians were efficiently checked- in for their homeward flights, along with their all-important sports equipment, ensuring that they departed on-time and without disrupting Heathrow’s operation. Not only was the team responsible for Air Canada’s check-in of some 300 Olympians, they were also involved in irlines were asked to ground handling for other airlines. develop ways to ease the “It was a huge team effort – really traffic flow of athletes ‘Team Heathrow’,” said Jo. through key airports such Keith said: “The biggest challenge as London Heathrow and was ensuring we had all the materials AirA Canada’s UK operations team, there to do remote check-in and that Olympic athletes headed by General Manager Airports our process was well rehearsed and UK & Ireland Hans Schuett, devised a carefully planned because we had to flown to UK remote check-in at the Olympic Park. do it manually – and we are talking up Such was its success, that the London to 17 containers of special sports on cooking oil Olympic Organising Committee equipment on a flight!” (LOCOG) used the system as a best- Jo added: “The departure of 180 powered jet practice example, when escorting Paralympians on 10 September With the departure airport operations professionals presented a very specific challenge. Air Canada flight AC864 from from Brazil, researching for the Rio Many of them were in electric Montréal to London on 24 July Left to right: Air Canada’s Olympics in 2016. wheelchairs that weigh up to 150 2012, the airline operated its Andrea Czinege, gold medal- Jo Keates, Customer Service kilos, which they were able to use second biofuel-powered flight winning gymnast Rosie Manager and Keith Edwards, Resource right up to the gate. Special achieving a reduction in Planning Manager, oversaw the Air arrangements had to be made by MacLennan and Emanuele Wheelchair racer emissions of up to 10 per cent Bellisario, Air Canada Canada Olympic operations planning Omniserve working with Air Canada, Michelle Stilwell in the UK. The remote check-in for to place these valuable items quickly using jet fuel derived from with her Canada’s departing Olympians was and carefully in the hold; without recycled cooking oil as well as gold medal built at the team’s residence in the causing any delays to flights.” other fuel-saving measures. Olympic Park and required more than a The overall result? 480 happy What made AC864 extra- year’s planning; building to a crescendo Olympians, no damaged equipment special was that Canada’s of activity as the Olympics approached. and no delays as a result of the extra Olympic athletes were Volunteers from baggage, load… a gold medal to Air Canada’s onboard bound for the Games. customer services and operations all operations, customer service, Air Canada was given this pulled together to ensure the baggage and ramp teams! honour as the Official Airline of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic teams. AN OLYMPIC “Just as our athletes strive for excellence in their athletic performance, Air Canada Diver Roseline Filion showing off strives for excellence in its her bronze medal environmental performance," said Dave Legge, Senior Vice FEAT President - Operations at With the success of the Vancouver Air Canada. Olympics already under their belt, Twenty per cent of the fuel Air Canada’s operations teams were required by the Airbus A330 to operate this flight was a in pole position to set a leading example 50/50 mix of regular jet fuel of smooth and efficient operations Four-times Olympic medal- and biofuel derived from recycled cooking oil. at the London 2012 Olympics. winning diver Emilie Heymans with Air Canada’s Carole Kabouchi 06 Winter 2012/13 (left) and Jessyca Clemont (right) Winter 2012/13 07 NETWORK

WHERE WE FLY INTERNATIONALLY, IN THE CARIBBEAN AND IN THE PACIFIC NOS VOLS INTERNATIONAUX, AUX ANTILLES ET DANS LE PACIFIQUE Beaufort Sea Baffin Bay Norwegian Sea Mer de Beaufort Baie de Baffin Mer de Norvège

GREENLAND GROENLAND

ICELAND ISLANDE

NORWAY NORVÈGE Yellowknife FINLAND FINLANDE Anchorage Bergen SWEDEN Whitehorse SUÈDE Oslo Helsinki St. Petersburg/Saint-Pétersbourg Stavanger Stockholm CANADA RUSSIA Bering Sea Gulf of Alaska Labrador Sea RUSSIE Gothenburg Mer de Béring Golfe d’Alaska Mer du Labrador DENMARK Edinburgh /Édimbourg DANEMARK Glasgow Copenhagen/Copenhague Moscow/Moscou IRELAND U.K. / R.-U. IRLANDE Belfast NETHERLANDS Bremen /BrêmePOLAND Edmonton Dublin Manchester PAYS-BAS POLOGNE GERMANY Berlin Saskatoon Shannon Amsterdam ALLEMAGNE Warsaw/Varsovie London/Londres Dresden /Dresde Calgary Düsseldorf Wrocław Regina Brussels/Bruxelles Kiev Winnipeg Frankfurt/Francfort Prague Kraków/Cracovie Vancouver Paris UKRAINE Victoria Thunder Bay Munich Vienna/Vienne Seattle Québec St. John’s Zurich Budapest Geneva/Genève Zagreb ROMANIA Lyon Ljubljana ROUMANIE Ottawa Montréal Halifax Milan Venice /Venise GEORGIA FRANCE Belgrade Bucharest GÉORGIE Toronto Toulouse Bilbao Nice SERBIA Bucarest Black Sea ARMENIA Sapporo Marseille SERBIE ARMÉNIE Boston SPAIN Mer Noire UNITED STATES Chicago ESPAGNE Rome Tbilisi/Tbilissi ÉTATS-UNIS New York Oporto /Porto Istanbul Barcelona/Barcelone Thessaloniki Yerevan / Erevan Baku/Bakou Philadelphia / Philadelphie PORTUGAL Madrid Thessalonique Ankara Denver Azores/Açores Valencia / Valence Palma ITALY Beijing Washington, D. C. Lisbon /Lisbonne ITALIE TURKEY CHINA (PORTUGAL) Alicante diterranea TURQUIE AZERBAIJAN CHINE Seoul/Séoul SOOUOUTTHT KOREAK San Francisco Me n S Athens/Athènes AZERBAÏDJAN COCORÉÉE DU SUD Málaga Algiers/Alger Tunis ea GREECE Las Vegas / GRÈCE Busan Nagoya Tokyo M LIBAN SYRIA IRAQ IRAN Tehran Osaka er LEBANON / SYRIE Téhéran (Narita, Haneda) Atlanta TUNISIA M Beirut /Beyrouth Fukuoka JAPANJJA Los Angeles TUNISIE éditerran CHINA JAPON Casablanca Tripoli ée ISRAEL / ISRAËL Damascus/Damas CHINE Pacific Ocean Dallas Madeira/Madère (PORTUGAL) MOROCCO Tel-Aviv MAROC ALGERIA Amman KUWAIT Océan Pacifique Houston ALGÉRIE Cairo/Le Caire KOWEÏT Shanghai LIBYA JORDAN Kuwait City/Koweït LIBYE JORDANIE Delhi Tenerife Las Palmas Canary Island/Îles Canaries EGYPT Okinawa ÉGYPTE Riyadh /Riyad Dammam Gulf of Mexico Miami (SPAIN / ESPAGNE) Taipei MEXICO Dubai /Dubaï MEXIQUE Golfe du Mexique Abu Dhabi INDIA Guangzhou TAAWAIWA AN INDE U.A.E. Hong Kong Oahu / Honolulu Jeddah/Djeddah É.A.U. Hanoi Atlantic Ocean SAUDI ARABIA Maui / Kahului Hawaiian Is. ARABIE Kailua-Kona / Keahole Îles Hawaii Mexico City/Mexico Océan Atlantique MAURITANIA SAOUDITE Mumbai É.-U. MAURITANIE OMAN (U.S. / ) MALI NIGER THAILAND Caribbean Sea ERITREA THAÏLANDE SENEGAL Khartoum ÉRYTHRÉE SÉNÉGAL CHAD YEMEN Manila /Manille Mer des Caraïbes Dakar TCHAD YÉMEN Bangkok VIEETNAME PHILIPPINES Banjul Chennai COSTA RICA GAMBIA SUDAN Asmara Bangalore Liberia GAMBIE GUINEA SOUDAN Ho Chi Minh City/Hô Chi Minh-Ville GUINÉE BENIN NIGERIA San José Cartagena Caracas Conakry SIERRA IVORY COAST Abuja Addis Abeba Freetown LEONE CÔTE D’IVOIRE Phuket VENEZUELA TOGO CENTRAL Georgetown GHANA CAMEROON AFRICAN REPUBLIC Lagos CAMEROUN RÉPUBLIQUE Medellín GUYANA Paramaribo Monrovia Accra ETHIOPIA MALAYAYYSIA GUYANE LIBERIAAbidjan Douala CENTRAFRICAINE ÉTHIOPIE MALAMAIISIE Bogotá Cayenne LIBÉRIA Port Harcourt Cali SURINAME Yaoundé COLOMBIA FRENCH GUIANA Malabo UGANDA SOMALIA COLOMBIE GUYANE FRANÇAISE EQUATORIAL GUINEA OUGANDA KENYA SOMALIE Singapore/Singapour Calgary GUINÉE ÉQUATORIALE Winnipeg ECUADOR Quito Libreville Kampala CANADA ÉQUATEUR GABON RWANDA DEM. REP. CONGO Kigali Nairobi Guayaquil RÉP. DÉM. CONGO CONGO Bujumbura Kinshasa BURUNDI Jakarta Ottawa Montréal TANZANIA Dar es Salaam Halifax PERU Recife TANZANIE INDONESIAA Denpasar PÉROU Luanda INDONÉSIE Toronto BRAZIL BRÉSIL Timor Sea Lubumbashi Lima ANGOLA Pemba Mer de Timor Darwin Salvador Ndola ZAMBIA / ZAMBIE Lilongwe Indian Ocean BOLIVIA Brasília Lusaka Blantyre Cairns Coral Sea La Paz BOLIVIE Livingstone MALAWI MADAGASCAR Océan Indien Mer de Corail Victoria FallsHarare Arica Sucre NAMIBIA ZIMBABWE Antananarivo Iquique Belo Horizonte NAMIBIE Maun Bulawayo Beira Windhoek Rio de Janeiro BOTSWANA MOZAMBIQUE Antofagasta PARAGUAY Walvis Bay MAURITIUS São Paulo Gaborone MAURICE AUSTRALIA Asunción Curitiba Maputo AUSTRALIE CHILE Johannesburg Brisbane CHILI Manzini Upington Maseru SWAZILAND Bloemfontein Pietermaritzburg ARGENTINA Porto Alegre Durban Bermuda ARGENTINE SOUTH AFRICA LESOTHO Bermudes AFRIQUE DU SUD Perth Rio Grande Mthatha Santiago URUGUAY Sydney Nassau Cape Town/Le Cap East London Adelaide/Adélaïde BAHAMAS Montevideo George Port Elizabeth Tasman Sea George Town Buenos Aires Mer de Tasman Auckland Santa Rosa Melbourne Varadero Mar del Plata NEW ZEALAND Havana/La Havane Bahía Blanca NOUVELLE-ZÉLANDE Valdivia Neuquén CUBA Cayo Coco Providenciales TURKS & Viedma Wellington Santa Clara CAICOS ISLANDS Puerto Montt Cayo Largo ÎLES TURKS PUERTO RICO Holguín ET CAICOS Christchurch Puerto Plata PORTO RICO (U.S. / É.-U.) HAITI Samaná HAÏTI Saint-Martin DOMINICAN San Juan St. Maarten / Port-au-Prince REPUBLIC Punta Cana Antigua Grand Cayman ET Grand Caïman Montego Bay RÉPUBLIQUE La Romana St.Kitts ANTIGUA AND / BARBUDA DOMINICAINE Saint-Kitts Pointe-à-Pitre Legend / Légende Kingston GUADELOUPE (FRANCE) JAMAICA JAMAÏQUE Fort-de-France Air Canada Selected Seasonal routes Selected destinations served by Caribbean Sea MARTINIQUE (FRANCE) Río Gallegos Mer des Caraïbes St. Lucia Punta Arenas routes code-share currently not operating Air Canada in collaboration with Sainte-Lucie Lignes routes Lignes saisonnières non Star Alliance™ and other partner airlines. Bridgetown d’Air Canada Sélection de exploitées actuellement Sélection de destinations desservies par BARBADOS Grenada BARBADE services à Air Canada en collaboration avec des Aruba Grenade Curaçao code multiple partenaires Star AllianceMC et autres Port of Spain partenaires commerciaux. COLOMBIA COLOMBIE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO VENEZUELA TRINITÉ-ET-TOBAGO Routes are accurate at time of printing, and are subject to change without prior notice. Les lignes annoncées sont exactes au moment de mettre sous presse et peuvent être modifi ées sans préavis. FEBRUARY / FÉVRIER 2013 1208SummerWinter 2012/13 2012 Winter 2012/13 09 INSIGHT TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY Top tips for winter

hroughout the 1980s, Lisa Young lived in New York City, Twhere she photographed travel pics celebrities, politicians, even former Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan for Time magazine. Lisa Young, a London-based photographer, Following this, Lisa returned to Europe and continued her work, videographer and travel writer which has featured in publications shares her wisdom with Check In worldwide, including National Geographic Traveller, The Times, Independent, Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Times Travel magazine and Harpers Bazaar as well as being used in films and TV. Here are a few tips from Lisa to help you hone your own photographic skills when travelling this winter…

Photographing wildlife Banff, Alberta Use a zoom lens to capture shy and nervous animals, so you don’t cause them distress. Seal, Antarctica Framing the picture Sled dogs, Alberta perfect landscape Shooting Heli-skiing in the Look for points of interest and foreground Canadian Rockies, snowy scenes details that lead the eye into the picture and add to the overall look of your photograph. British Columbia Shooting a snowy setting or falling This shot of Banff shows street photography snow can be fun, but snow is mixed with landscape photography. There’s reflective, so turn off the flash as it plenty of activity in the shot making the image will make the picture appear darker more interesting for the viewer, instead of just and you’ll end up with blobs of snow looking at a big rock. and no depth to the photo. Protect your camera in a waterproof bag, as when the snow melts it could enter the camera and damage Capturing the moment the electronics. When shooting Work out your composition before taking a something white like snow it can photo. Foreground elements add a sense of appear grey, so you need to force the dimension, distance and depth. Try placing camera to shoot it white - try using the subject off-centre to make the composition the camera’s exposure compensation more interesting, dynamic and eye catching. ½ option (+ or 1. stop). A larger f/stop is good if the landscape is the main subject. Photos © Lisa Young Photos © Lisa

10 winter 2012/13 Winter 2012/13 11 HORIZON MONTRÉAL

Air Canada flies daily to Montréal from Montréal’s cultural icons. Clockwise Heathrow year-round. from left: Oscar Peterson, Arcade Fire, Visit aircanada.com for MONTRÉAL: Jean-Paul Riopelle, Cirque du Soleil the latest prices. NOËL, NOËL… Montréal is always romantic, but particularly at Christmas. Wrap CULTURE AT up warm and take a horse-drawn carriage through the cobbled streets of Old Montréal. During Les Féeries du Vieux-Montréal festival (9-31 December 2012), the boutiques ITS HEART and crèches, Christmas trees and the smell of good things to eat all guarantee a festive feel. Shop for one-of-a-kind gifts at the Salon des Métiers d’Art craft fair at Place Bonaventure (7-22 December 2012). No stranger to Québec’s largest city, After midnight mass, feast on travel writer Kathy Arnold takes oysters, lobster and tourtière, neighbourhood Bistro à Jojo on Rue Québec’s traditional meat pie. Then, Check In on a tour of Montréal’s cultural highlights St-Denis is a big draw. work it all off on Christmas morning As for contemporary music, Arcade by ice skating at the Bonsecours Fire is a local indie rock group that Basin in the Old Port. has picked up one international award after another. According to the band’s Régine Chassagne “our band couldn’t exist without Montréal”, and as a thank you to their home town, something new to challenge my they famously gave a free concert. perception of what ‘art’ actually is. Another local artistic hero was Of course, Montréal’s best-known Jean-Paul Riopelle, Canada’s most cultural contribution has to be the hen it comes to travel bars. Add in the open spaces, which excellent acoustics that is perfect for renowned modern painter and Cirque du Soleil, whose international destinations, I think of also host performances, and the area choral as well as orchestral works. sculptor. His Abstract Expressionist headquarters are here. With its mix cities first. Why? Because buzzes day and night. This winter’s Then, there is ballet. Montréal’s works are in the Montréal Museum of street entertainment and circus W with so much to see and highlight has to be the 14th Montréal Grands Ballets Canadiens go from of Fine Arts – and while I may not arts, the company epitomises the do, my days are guaranteed to be fun en Lumière (21 February -3 March strength to strength under the understand them, they are certainly city’s passion for live shows, from and stimulating – whatever the 2013; www.montrealenlumiere.com ), guidance of artistic director Gradimir intriguing. To get bang up-to-date music and art to theatre. weather brings. And in Canada, with live bands, DJs and VJs, circuses, Pankov. Its repertoire reflects the with the art world, I head for the What about food? With a dining Montréal always exceeds my theatre and puppets. And where else city’s multi-cultural population, Musée d’Art Contemporain de scene that is second to none, my expectations. As the second largest but Canada would you have a matching avant-garde with classics, Montréal, where most of the artists Montréal friends consider that part MONTRÉAL TOURISM: French-speaking city in the world gigantic refrigerated Urban Slide? such as a delightful Christmas on show are still alive and still of their culture. But that’s another www.tourisme-montreal.org (after Paris), it is no surprise that its Yup, it’s 100 metres long and has Nutcracker. creating. Every time I visit, there is story! cultural life is vibrant. But what draws sound, lighting and even smoke Montréal is one of North America’s me back, time after time, is that I effects! most sophisticated cities, but it also THAT’S SNOW BUSINESS always discover something new. The city’s cultural establishment knows how to have fun. Ever since Take downtown. This busy area of is also made up of big hitters – and Prohibition in the USA attracted Only 90 minutes from Montréal is Mont Tremblant, a ski resort with 95 runs offices, shops and restaurants now here, too, there are changes. The partygoers from over the border, jazz and 14 state-of-the-art lifts. With its 645 metres/2,116 feet of vertical drop, it has a designated Quartier des internationally-acclaimed Montréal has been centre-stage. The late Oscar offers challenges for experts, room for intermediates and fun for beginners. Spectacles (Entertainment District). Symphony Orchestra has a new Peterson was a famous son, but the (www.tremblant.ca) Alternatively, try out the ultimate winter experience: Around the hub, the Place des Arts home, the handsome Maison beat goes on in venues such as the Montréal’s Snow Village. Everything is built of ice: the bar, restaurant, chapel performing arts centre, are some 80 Symphonique de Montréal. Lined Upstairs jazz club (on Rue Mackay). and even the 25-room ice hotel, where the rooms have proper beds with thermal venues, from theatres to clubs and with Canadian beech wood, this has For blues aficionados, the sleeping bags. (4 January - 21 March 2013; www.snowvillagecanada.com)

12 Winter 2012/13 Winter 2012/13 13 COMPETITION HAVANA, CUBA

ounded in 1519, Havana prospered from the Spanish conquest of Mexico and Peru, as an important stopping off point for looted treasures bound for Spain. FOver the decades revolution and political unrest have done little to damage its heritage as one of the finest examples of a Spanish colonial city anywhere in the Americas. HAVANA CUBA Havana’s streets have countless vintage cars and a Enter now for your chance to win two return wonderful air of nostalgia prevails. The city’s port enabled it to grow great wealth from economy tickets with Air Canada to Havana, trade in sugar, rum, tobacco and coffee, beautifully the capital of Cuba. reflected in its magnificent architecture, plazas and monuments. Architectural highlights include the Plaza de la Catedral, the Plaza Vieja, the Plaza San Francisco de Asis and the Plaza de la Revolución to name just a few. Havana is one of the most unique, atmospheric places on the planet. The people, the buildings, the music, the history, the food all combine in a heady mix that makes for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, so if you are our lucky winner, head for one of the many outdoor cafes, sit back and soak up the atmosphere. For culture, visit Museo Hemingway Finca Vigia which honours its namesake and is housed in Ernest Hemingway’s property standing on a hill out of town with commanding views over the city. If political history interests you, head to the Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolucion) which presents the story of the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Many of the revolutionaries ended up in the Christopher Columbus Cemetery (Cemetario de Colon) which is also well worth a visit. Of course, one of Cuba’s most iconic images is of bronzed ladies hand-rolling cigars; so the original cigar factory Partagas Cigar Factory is a must. But if a little bronzing of your own is just the ticket, get HAVANA IS ONE OF THE out of the city to the beaches of Havana’s pine- fringed Riviera. Playas del Este begins at MOST UNIQUE, ATMOSPHERIC Bacuranao, 18km east of central Havana and continues eastwards through Tarará, El Mégano, PLACES ON THE PLANET... Santa María del Mar and Boca Ciega to the town of Guanabo, 27km from the capital. This is where Havana’s residents come to lounge on soft white sands and bathe in crystal clear waters. Getting there: Air Canada offers year-round daily non-stop service to Havana, Cuba from its main hub Entries must be received by 30 March 2013. The winner in Toronto, Toronto Pearson International Airport. will be drawn from entries with the correct anwser and This winter, Air Canada operates up to four flights WIN tickets! be notified within 28 days. from London Heathrow per day to Pearson International, which has domestic, transborder and international Air Canada is offering the opportunity to win two Q: What year was Havana founded? operations centralised under one roof offering convenient return economy tickets to the beautiful city of Havana. connections for customers travelling to destinations To enter, answer the question below and send your Congratulations to Sara Crowley from Macquarie Bank, across Canada, the United States and throughout name, address, contact telephone number and email who won two tickets to St. John’s, Newfoundland in our the Americas. address to: [email protected] Summer 2012 edition of Check In.

14 Winter 2012/13 Winter 2012/13 15 SCHEDULE

CONNECTIONS From our main hub in Toronto, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Air Canada offers connections to numerous destinations in Canada, the United States and throughout the Americas.

AC869 | LHR 0900 | YYZ 1210 Connections to US points FLIGHT DEP ARR WINTER SCHEDULE 2012/13 Atlanta AC8623 1350 1603 Air Canada offers more daily flights from the UK to Canada Cleveland AC7905 1620 1731 than any other airline, with up to 63 non-stop flights per Indianapolis AC8023 1400 1533 week to seven major Canadian cities scheduled from Minneapolis AC7943 1430 1542 London Heathrow (LHR) this winter. New Orleans AC7971 1425 1624 Pittsburgh AC8036 1615 1732

VANCOUVER | YVR DEP ARR FREQUENCY Connections to South America FLIGHT DEP ARR AC855 1425 1625 daily Caracas, Venezuela AC076 1550 2135

CALGARY | YYC DEP ARR FREQUENCY AC857 | LHR 1200 | YYZ 1510 AC851 1205 1425 daily Connections to US points FLIGHT DEP ARR Cincinnati AC7983 1815 1949 EDMONTON | YEG DEP ARR FREQUENCY Detroit AC8019 1645 1806 AC899 1105 1310 Wed/Fri/Sun Los Angeles AC793 1810 2035 St Louis AC7987 1715 1825 OTTAWA | YOW DEP ARR FREQUENCY Orlando AC912 1640 1931 AC889 1300 1545 daily Connections to Cuba FLIGHT DEP ARR Havana AC1798 1640 2015 HALIFAX | YHZ DEP ARR FREQUENCY AC861 1105 1350 Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat AC849 | LHR 1500 | YYZ 1810 Connections to US points FLIGHT DEP ARR TORONTO | YYZ DEP ARR FREQUENCY Hartford AC7428 2100 2235 AC869 0900 1210 daily Boston AC368 2025 2156 AC857 1200 1510 daily Las Vegas AC593 2025 2221 AC849 1500 1810 daily Miami AC918 2015 2328 AC859 1800 2110 daily Phoenix AC1289 2015 2306

MONTREAL | YUL DEP ARR FREQUENCY AC859 | LHR 1800 | YYZ 2110 AC865 1330 1555 daily Connections to Canada FLIGHT DEP ARR Montreal AC430 2230 2345 Ottawa AC470 2230 2330

Connections to South America FLIGHT DEP ARR Lima, Peru AC080 2350 0750 Buenos Aires, Argentina AC092 2345 1535 Santiago, Chile AC092 2345 1205 Sao Paulo, Brazil AC090 2230 1125

Schedule subject to change.

16 Winter 2012/13