Ms. Jacqueline Harkness

AIR CANADA OPENS FIRST PREMIUM LOUNGE EXPERIENCE AT QUEBEC CITY JEAN LESAGE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Air Canada has opened its newest Air Canada Cafe at Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB), introducing the first dedicated premium lounge experience to the airport's terminal. The new 97-seat Air Canada Cafe, operated in partnership with Plaza Premium, offers eligible customers a modern, locally inspired space to relax, work or recharge before their flight, featuring menus that celebrate Quebec City's heritage, culture and renowned "art de vivre."

The YQB location marks the seventh Air Canada Cafe, deepening the airline's investment in the premium customer experience in Quebec and expanding the successful cafe concept as part of its multiyear global lounge modernization program.

"Travellers love Quebec City for its food, charm and character," said Jacqueline Harkness, managing director, product and services at Air Canada. "With this new Air Canada Cafe, we've created a space that feels like a love letter to the city -- warm, calm and inspired by its rich and unique character. Quebec City is one of Canada's great treasures and we're proud to bring a little taste of its magic into the travel experience."

Reflecting Air Canada's Glowing Hearted design philosophy, the new Air Canada Cafe blends inspiration from Quebec's natural landscape and the charm and character of the Quebec City region to create an atmosphere of calm and comfort. The space is anchored by two significant works from celebrated Quebecois and Canadian artists. These include Flow, a vibrant abstraction in acrylic, oil and ink on canvas by the award-winning abstract artist Antonietta Grassi, and 1982, a colourful, geometric acrylic on linen by visual artist and novelist Douglas Coupland.

Local food and beverage offerings

The Air Canada Cafe's menu proudly features locally sourced products and items developed with Quebec-based and indigenous partners, celebrating the city and region's rich character. Designed as a place to relax before a flight, the Air Canada Cafe features a full self-service station with hot and cold menu items to be enjoyed on site. The menu also caters to a range of dietary preferences and is supported by comprehensive allergen labelling.

Here are some of the menu highlights featured:

• Signature breakfast pancakes with maple butter, fleur de sel and Sigewigus pumpkin seed spread sourced from the Mi'gmaq Nation of Gespeg indigenous community;

• Fresh, locally sourced ingredients at build-your-own power bowl bar;

• Curated selection of local cheeses and artisanal jams;

• Menu items designed for dietary preferences and restrictions, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options;

• Full-service bar offering premium specialty coffee from Lavazza, handcrafted cocktails, featuring la distilleries du Fjord and beers from local brewery La Souche;

Amenities and space

• 97 seats across 3,616-square-foot (336-square-metre) premium space;

• Productivity-style seating for working and taking calls;

• Power at every seat, including USB-C ports with wattage to charge a laptop.

Glowing Hearted design

Inspired by the vast range of Canada's landscapes and regions, this new "cafe" reflects Air Canada's new design standard for creating warm, distinctly Canadian spaces that authentically reflect the local culture, character and sense of place. This is the latest expression of our "Glowing Hearted" end-to-end customer experience. At the new Air Canada Cafe at YQB this includes:

• Design inspired by Quebec City's art de vivre, the region's natural beauty and unique French character;

• Works from celebrated Quebec and Canadian artists, including Antonietta Grassi and Douglas Coupland;

• A design approach that reflects a deliberate investment in timeless quality, balancing refined aesthetics with premium, durable materials that will stand up to daily use.

Eligibility for Air Canada Cafe access

Access to the Air Canada Cafe at YQB is available to eligible domestic customers, including Aeroplan Elite members (50,000 and above), Star Alliance Gold members, Aeroplan premium co-brand cardholders, and business class customers departing on Air Canada and Star Alliance flights from YQB.

Elevating the airport experience

The new Air Canada Cafe at YQB is the airline's latest investment in premium airport experiences that are tailored to the communities and markets it serves. Air Canada continues to modernize and expand its lounge network, focusing on customer care, convenience and comfort. Last year, the airline added over 500 lounge seats worldwide, delivering more space and amenities for its customers. This latest expansion builds on a series of recent lounge upgrades, including a new Air Canada Cafe and refreshed domestic Maple Leaf Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau, introducing elevated design, modern seating and improved power access to select airport locations across the airline's global network.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest airline, the country's flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network.