Air Canada, TAM Expand Network

Air Canada, a founding member of Star Alliance, and TAM, Brazil’s largest airline, announced today they have concluded an agreement to expand their networks on a codeshare basis, offering customers more choice of destinations and convenient transfers to major cities throughout Brazil and Canada.

This bilateral agreement also provides for reciprocal travel reward benefits for the members of the carriers’ frequent flyer programs, Aeroplan and TAM Fidelidade. The introduction of codeshare services and reciprocal travel reward benefits is planned to take effect November 2008, subject to government approval.

Separately, Star Alliance today announced that following the successful conclusion of membership talks with TAM, the Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance has voted to accept Latin America’s largest air carrier as a future member.

With the implementation of this new bilateral partnership agreement between Air Canada and TAM, customers of both airlines will benefit from simplified bookings, seamless connections on a single ticket and baggage check-through to final destination.

Through connections at Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport, Air Canada’s network will expand to serve six major Brazilian cities on a codeshare basis operated by TAM: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Porto Alegre.

TAM customers in turn, will benefit from an expanded network including daily codeshare service operated by Air Canada between Sao Paulo and Toronto with convenient connections in Toronto to: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Quebec City.