New Canada-Shannon air link launched

The underfire Irish aviation industry got a boost today as a new link between Shannon Airport and Canada was launched by Air Canada today after a 23-year lay-off.

Direct flights between Shannon and Canada ended in 1979 but the new service announced today will provide a direct link to Toronto from Shannon Airport.

The service officially begins on June 14.

From 1947 to 1979 Air Canada operated flights between Montreal and Shannon under its then name, TransCanada Airlines, but the service fell by the wayside at the end of the 1970’s.

The new service is part of an ambitious plan by the Canadian national airline to increase its services throughout Europe.