PRESS RELEASE - Monday 11th May 2009

- Flights from £348 return and ski holidays from £599pp –
- Prices lower than 2008 -

3rd July, 2009 – Canadian Affair will be operating its widest ever choice of West Coast flights this winter, and adding several ski resorts to its programme, to offer its biggest range of ski holiday options yet.

The award-winning operator is introducing Revelstoke, Big White and Silver Star into its programme for the first time, taking the number of resorts it offers to 11. A range of hotels and self-catering properties are offered in each resort.

A seven night holiday in Banff costs from just £599 per person. This is based on return Economy Class return flights from Gatwick or Manchester to Calgary, seven nights at the Swiss Village Hotel (twin share, room only) and resort transfers. Based on travel in January 2010.

Canadian Affair will offer twice-weekly flights non-stop from both Gatwick and Manchester to Calgary, and a weekly flight non-stop from Gatwick to Vancouver. Flights start from £348 per person return including taxes.

Flights will be operated by their Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A330 aircraft with a generous 33 inch seat pitch and luxury leather seats in Economy Class, seat back TV monitors throughout the aircraft, and a separate Premium cabin offering many extra benefits such as: dedicated check in, an extra 10kgs luggage allowance, a wider seat, 35 inch seat pitch, complimentary beverages and much more. 

All customers will also benefit from free ski carriage of one ski/board bag up to 10kgs in weight.

Flights to Calgary will operate on Wednesday and Saturdays, giving travellers a choice of 7, 10 or 14 day holidays, with flights to Vancouver on Thursdays. Add-on flights from Calgary to Kelowna are also available, enabling skiers to fly closer to resorts such as Silver Star and Revelstoke.

Kathryn Munro, Communication & Marketing Director of Canadian Affair, says: “Despite the challenging economic conditions, we believe there is still considerable demand for good value winter sports holidays to Canada, and we are increasing our programme to meet that.

“Canada offers some of the world’s best winter sports, and remains a good value destination for UK travellers – we believe this is a winning combination,” she added.

In addition to flights and hotels, Canadian Affair offers a wide range of winter holiday options including car rental with free upgrades on many car sizes, lift passes, ski equipment hire, and competitively priced travel insurance with winter sports cover.

Canadian Affair is also operating up to six flights a week to Toronto this winter, with four weekly flights from Gatwick and weekly services from both Manchester and Glasgow.

Perfect for short winter breaks, flights start from £319 per person return, and Canadian Affair is also offering a range of hotels in Toronto and Niagara.

A three night Toronto city break costs from just £395 per person. This includes Economy Class return flights from Gatwick to Toronto, and three nights at the Days Hotel (twin share, room only)

Canadian Affair has been voted Consumer Favourite Tour Operator at The British Annual Canada Travel Awards for two years in succession, and Consumer Favourite Tour Operator for the past four years.

For information and reservations, please call 020 7616 9933 or 0141 223 7515, or visit www.canadianaffair.com

- ends -

Notes to editors:

*Travelex exchange rate (1 GBP = 1.7176 CAD) as at 28 April 2009

· Complimentary hold baggage allowance for passengers is 20kg in Economy and 30kg in Premium.

· The Canadian Affair summer programme runs from 1st May – 31st October, 2009 (end dates for the summer flight schedule vary depending on UK departure airport).

· Air Transat and Canadian Affair are part of Transat A.T. Inc., an integrated travel company specialising in organising, marketing and distributing holiday travel and packages between Canada and Europe.

· Air Transat was launched in 1987.

· British tour operator The Airline Seat Company (TASC) was created in 1995 and operates under the name Canadian Affair.

For more information, please contact:     

Information: Charlie Hampton or Claire Freeman

Canadian Affair Press Office

Bell Pottinger Business & Brand

Telephone: 0207-861-2431/2447

E-Mail: champton@bell-pottinger.co.uk