Air Canada has become the first Canadian airline to follow in the footsteps of three U.S. carriers, expanding the options for travelers from regional airports to reach its main hub for long-distance flights by using airline-branded buses operated by Landline.
Travelers at Hamilton and Waterloo, Ontario will be able to check in for their flights and check their bags at local airports and then board a luxury coach to Toronto Pearson International Airport without having to handle their baggage or wait in check-in lines.
In the opposite direction, passengers find the bus waiting for them, and their baggage is loaded for delivery at their local airport. Air Canada says it sees a potential to add other areas in future.
In the U.S., the idea was pioneered by Sun Country Airlines which gathers passengers to its Minneapolis hub. American and United use the service in the Philadelphia area and United uses Landline to extend its Denver hub’s reach into Colorado ski country.
In most cases, passengers must still go through airport security, although at least a few locations now make it possible for passengers to arrive airside at the main terminal.
