Thursday, July 3, 2025

Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada, emphasized that this intermodal transportation agreement will make it easier for passengers to travel to their final destinations by offering more flexibility in their travel schedules. The enhanced codeshare agreement not only benefits passengers flying to and from Frankfurt but also improves the overall travel experience by streamlining the booking process for both air and rail travel.

By incorporating rail services into the airline’s offerings, passengers can now book a single ticket that covers both their flights and their subsequent rail journeys. This eliminates the need for multiple bookings and simplifies the travel experience, especially for those who need to continue their journey from Frankfurt to other major European cities. For example, travelers arriving on Air Canada flights to Frankfurt can now seamlessly connect to trains headed to cities like Cologne, Munich, or Stuttgart.

The Lufthansa Express Rail services operate as part of Air Canada’s broader effort to provide intermodal transportation options. These services will be available for customers departing from or arriving at Frankfurt, one of the most important hubs in Europe for both air and rail travel.

One of the standout features of the new collaboration is the ability to book a customized, intermodal itinerary under a single reservation. Air Canada’s website allows customers to easily select and book a combination of flights and rail journeys, making it easier to coordinate their travel plans. With this enhanced flexibility, travelers can create personalized schedules that suit their preferences, whether they are flying from Canada to Frankfurt or continuing their journey from Frankfurt to other parts of Europe.

Air Canada’s website and travel agents can handle all aspects of the booking, ensuring that passengers have a smooth and efficient travel experience from start to finish. In addition to the Lufthansa Express Rail integration, Air Canada’s intermodal partnerships with rail operators such as Deutsche Bahn and other European rail companies have allowed the airline to expand its travel offerings to include more destinations across Europe.

This is not the first time Air Canada has explored intermodal transportation. In 2023, the airline introduced air-to-rail booking options, providing customers access to a network of rail services in eight countries, including Italy’s Trenitalia, Spain’s Renfe, France’s TGV-SNCF Voyageurs, South Korea’s KORAIL KTX, and Switzerland’s Swiss Federal Railways. Through partnerships with rail providers like Deutsche Bahn and its collaboration with other European operators, Air Canada has made it possible for passengers to book flights that seamlessly connect with train or coach services across Europe.

By expanding its intermodal travel offerings, Air Canada is positioning itself as a leading provider of seamless travel between North America and Europe. This approach also aligns with the airline’s broader goal of enhancing the customer experience by making international travel more flexible, efficient, and customizable. For passengers traveling to and from Europe, this new codeshare with Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn ensures that getting to their final destination is a stress-free experience.

The integration of rail services with Air Canada’s flights allows the airline to provide a comprehensive travel experience for its passengers. The intermodal system helps optimize travel times, reduce layovers, and increase overall convenience, especially for those traveling between major European cities. For example, passengers flying from Toronto to Frankfurt can easily continue their journey by rail to neighboring countries or cities without the hassle of separate bookings or additional check-ins.

Additionally, Air Canada’s partnership with Lufthansa Express Rail enhances the airline’s connectivity to key European destinations, further expanding the airline’s reach in the competitive European market. By offering both air and rail options, the airline is meeting the increasing demand for flexible, sustainable, and efficient travel solutions.

The codeshare agreement and the intermodal travel option further improve Air Canada’s customer experience, allowing travelers to seamlessly transition between flight and rail travel while enjoying the benefits of a single, integrated reservation system. As global travel patterns shift toward more sustainable and efficient travel options, intermodal transportation presents a key advantage, allowing passengers to use both air and rail for long and short-haul journeys.

In the future, Air Canada may expand its intermodal offerings even further by incorporating more rail operators and offering additional routes to Europe and beyond. With its continued focus on customer satisfaction, Air Canada is poised to remain a leader in the global airline industry by providing innovative and flexible travel solutions.

«Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us»