Air Canada to notify passengers via text message, e-mail about flight delays and cancellations

Air Canada, the flag-carrier airline of Canada, is introducing a new service which notifies its customers by a text message or email or when their flights are delayed or cancelled.

Passengers whose flights are disrupted because of problems like storms can re-book flights using their mobile phones and devices such as BlackBerrys and iPhones or computer, thus avoiding the need to line up or contact their agents.

A statement from Air Canada, the biggest airline based in Canada, said that, through its new service, the passengers will be notified automatically about alternative flights, and will have the facility to choose another flight or to cancel trips altogether.

Duncan Dee, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Air Canada, said -that the carrier is making use of mobile phones, smartphones and computer enhance communications with its customers.

Message to those passengers who do not have electronic addresses will be routed to call centres, he added.

It may be recalled that, during the Christmas holidays in 2008, Air Canada was deluged with complaints after the airline was compelled either to delay or cancel flights because of snowstorms. At the time, there were long delays, and thousands of passengers were stranded in airports all across Canada.

Air Canada’s new re-booking tool, according to Duncan Dee, makes it easy and also convenient for the carrier’s customers to “adjust their travel without having to line up or contact their travel agent.”

He said that the airline will continue to introduce more technological features in future with a view to increasing further the customers’ convenience.

In August 2009, Air Canada became the first airline based in North America to release an iPod and Apple iPhone touch application which provides information on flight.

More information on Air Canada, its flights as well as online features can be had on the website aircanada.com

The online features that Air Canada offers its customers through its website aircanada.com include booking on Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz (including code-share flights operated by partners of Star Alliance) for up to 9 persons at the same time; showing all travel options on one screen and letting customers choose easily the flight that meets their travel needs best vis-à-vis date, time and price; buying car, hotel and travel insurance; as well as changing a flight, selecting a seat, and re-sending an e-mail confirmation of the journey.