Air Canada launches multimodal partnership with The Landline Company

Earlier this year, Air Canada announced a new multimodal partnership The Landline Company, which provides passengers in the Hamilton and Kitchener/Waterloo areas seamless access to Air Canada flights at Toronto Pearson (YYZ).

Thanks to the pilot project, which is live on May 1, 2024, Air Canada passengers can enjoy ground transportation to and from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) aboard a Canadian-built coach operated by The Landline Company, connecting to or from an Air Canada flight on a only route.

Air Canada launches multimodal partnership with The Landline Company

Air Canada has launched a multi-modal pilot project with The Landline Company, which provides passenger coach service between John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) and Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ).

Canadian-built coaches offer passengers fully accessible transportation with reclining leather seats, tablets, power outlets and free Wi-Fi for travel. Each coach has 36 seats in a 2-1 configuration, as well as overhead compartments for hand luggage and on-board toilets.

Through this partnership, passengers can book a unique itinerary combining coach transfer with an Air Canada flight departing or arriving at its Toronto Pearson (YYZ) hub.

Landline offers six non-stop round-trip journeys daily from each of Hamilton (YHM) and Kitchener/Waterloo (YKF) airports, with schedules for each as follows:

Passengers departing from Hamilton or Kitchener/Waterloo will check in as usual for their flight and obtain boarding passes for all segments of the journey.

They will then board an Air Canada-branded coach and their checked baggage will be loaded on their behalf. Upon arrival at Toronto Pearson (YYZ), passengers will proceed directly to security and their luggage will be transferred to their connecting flight.

For passengers arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and taking a coach back to Hamilton or Kitchener/Waterloo, you will need to collect your luggage upon arrival and bring it to the designated landline pick-up location on the ground floor from the airport for your connection.

Passengers will benefit from full itinerary protection in the event of coach service or flight delays.

Additionally, passengers will earn Aeroplan points on both land and air segments.

The pilot project began at Hamilton and Waterloo airports on May 1, 2024, with the possibility of launching elsewhere in Canada in the future.

The multimodal service is now available for booking on Air Canada's reservation channels.

When booking, simply enter Hamilton (YHM) or Waterloo (YKF) as your departure/arrival point, and the search results will display “Includes journeys operated by The Landline Company” for the coach connection.

At the moment it is not possible to exchange plane points for multimodal reservations.

Air Canada's newest multimodal venture

Air Canada's pilot project with The Landline Company is its latest initiative in single-route, multi-modal reservations.

Recently, the airline launched air-rail connections in Europe, which offer passengers a single ticket including both air and rail service in some countries.

This new business offers passengers who would otherwise have to drive and park at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) the possibility of leaving their car at home or closer to home and taking advantage of a coach service to Toronto Pearson (YYZ).

Additionally, Air Canada currently does not operate any flights from Hamilton (YHM) or Kitchener/Waterloo (YKF).

However, both airports offer non-stop flights to destinations in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean from Air Canada's mainline competitors and ultra-low-cost carriers.

This multimodal partnership is a unique way for Air Canada to offer passengers access to its global network with a seamless connection, without offering flights departing from either airport.

Conclusion

Air Canada launched its partnership with The Landline Company, providing coach service between Hamilton (YHM) and Kitchener/Waterloo (YKF) airports and Toronto Pearson (YYZ).

Passengers can book coach transfer and air service on a single itinerary through Air Canada's reservation channels, for travel beginning May 1, 2024.

This pilot project is Air Canada's latest multi-modal travel initiative, which could be launched at other Canadian airports in the future.