TAM, Air Canada Sign MOU for Codesharing, Frequent Flyer Benefits

TAM and Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline and a founding member of the Star Alliance, signed a Memorandum of Understanding today in Sao Paulo providing for the implementation of a codeshare agreement and reciprocal frequent flyer mileage accumulation for members of the carriers’ loyalty programs, TAM Fidelidade and Aeroplan.

The intent of the proposed agreement is to offer increased services for customers traveling between Brazil and Canada, including seamless transfers and convenient connections to a variety of destinations served by the two airlines.

The proposed agreement will allow TAM passengers to travel on Air Canada from Sao Paulo to Toronto, with connections to many destinations in Canada. Air Canada customers, in turn, will enjoy increased options for traveling to points throughout Brazil with convenient connections with its daily non-stop flights to Sao Paulo from Toronto.

In addition, members of TAM Fidelidade and Air Canada’s Aeroplan frequent flyer programs will benefit from reciprocal mileage accumulation on eligible codeshare flights.

Starting December 1, 2008, Air Canada will upgrade its aircraft on the Sao Paulo-Toronto route to a Boeing 777-300ER from a Boeing 767-300, providing an additional 138 seats a day. Flights are timed to connect at the carrier’s main hub in Toronto with onward Air Canada flights to Europe and Asia, providing convenient travel times between those continents and South America.