Customers wait their turn to be served at the Air Canada's office in Caracas March 18, 2014. Venezuela's government said on Tuesday it was breaking commercial ties with Air Canada a day after the airline suspended flights to Caracas citing the c
Customers wait their turn to be served at the Air Canada's office in Caracas March 18, 2014. Venezuela's government said on Tuesday it was breaking commercial ties with Air Canada a day after the airline suspended flights to Caracas citing the country's civil unrest. REUTERS/Marco Bello REUTERS/Marco Bello

Effective end of April, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada's low-cost subsidiary, will expand its service in Western Canada to serve a number of predominantly leisure markets.

Air Canada Rogue will fly the following routes on the effective dates:

  • Five Vancouver routes by end 2014, starting with a daily service to Las Vegas on April 28;
  • Beginning May 1, daily services from Vancouver to Los Angeles;
  • Effective May 16, daily services from Vancouver to Anchorage;
  • On July 1 onwards, daily services from Vancouver to San Francisco; and,
  • Beginning Dec 17, daily services from Vancouver to Phoenix.

The expansion of Rouge and the addition of new aircraft are a "key element of our strategy for sustainable, profitable growth at both airlines," Ben Smith, Air Canada chief commercial officer, said.

"Air Canada Rouge is best suited to compete more cost effectively in these markets where there is both a high leisure travel demand and low-cost competition," he stated in a statement.

Air Canada Rouge is also poised to take over the flight service between Toronto and San Diego and Phoenix.

Moreover, Mr Smith said Air Canada Rouge may acquire additional destinations as Air Canada receives delivery of new airplanes. The existing Airbus A319s and Boeing 767s are deemed likely to be transferred to the low-cost subsidiary.

"We will continue to evaluate future market opportunities as new aircraft are introduced into the mainline fleet and existing aircraft are released for operation by Air Canada rouge as market demand warrants."

Air Canada Rouge currently operates Boeing 767 and Airbus 319 aircraft transferred from Air Canada. It will have a fleet of 17 planes by end March and expects 33 more by end 2014.

Mr Smith said the fleet could expand to 50 aircraft within the next two to three years.