Travel

Air Canada adds 3 new routes to landline buses in the United States

The agreement reached with American Airlines and Air Canada has expanded, and the ride-hailing company landlines will develop this fall.

The Colorado-based company’s expansion began in September, starting from Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) to Kingston Norman Rogers Airport (YGK), Ontario, on September 23 on Air Canada’s third route.

“Frequency, reliability and where possible, people who actually sit in their seats like our products,” David Sunde, co-founder and CEO of Landlines, said in an interview. “It took a while to figure it out exactly.” [how] Things work, but now it works well. ”

By the end of 2025, Sunde estimates that landlines will operate nearly 30 “motorcycles” (what he said to the company’s bus) in partnership with Canada, the United States and Sun Country Airlines and its independent service in Colorado.

The growth of landlines has been impressive given the company’s establishment with only one airline partner and a few buses in the eve of the Covid-19 pandemic in late 2019. Its promotion is that buses can fly to small destinations within a hub of about a hundred miles, which is cheaper and more efficient than airplanes. The concept of aircraft connection is not something new, but most airlines that airlines have retired in the past few decades have supported full-plane operations.

But since the first “flight” from landlines to Minneapolis Street from Duluth International Airport (DLH) in Minnesota. On a cold November morning, Sunde said the company’s growth, especially with existing partners, proved the feasibility of the concept on the way to fly.

Landlines with the new Chicago base in the United States

Landlines will replenish its existing US base on ORD starting October 4. On the same day, the company will launch four “daily flights” at South Bend International Airport (SBN) in Indiana. The landline will then connect ORD and Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) five times a day on October 20.

According to the US website, the ORD-SBN “flight” is planned to be carried out within two hours and 45 minutes, and the ORD-RFD “flight” is planned to be carried out within one hour and 35 minutes.

“This innovative and convenient option for short trips will allow Midwesterns to gain access to the strong U.S. network from O’Hare,” said Ben Humphrey, vice president of American Ord Operations, in a statement. “As we make a significant expansion at ORD, there is no better time to strengthen connectivity and more options in the region, providing more options for local travelers.”

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with TPG Daily Newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts

Bus on board
On landline buses operating on behalf of American Airlines. American Airlines

New U.S. “flights” for landlines will all run within safety, or as Sunde describes the “tarmac to tarmac” three airports. In other words, the Transport Safety Administration will screen travelers at its place of origin, and they will then transfer between buses and aircraft at the Airside Gate in ORD.

“You’re on the landline, you’re on the internet, you’re working, and you can use the bathroom all the way to your destination,” Sand said in an interview. “You’re not ranked 57th on the far runway in O’Hare.”

Travelers will also be able to earn and redeem American Airlines Aadvantage’s loyalty and status points on new RFD and SBN services, just like the US standard U.S. flights.

New routes for landlines and Air Canada

The landline will travel twice daily between Air Canada’s YYZ and YGK services on September 23. The “flight” is planned to be carried out within two hours and 50 minutes.

“We are delighted to reconnect our customers in Kingston and surrounding areas to our global network,” Ranbir Singh, Director of Regional Airlines and Marketing at Air Canada, said in a statement. “This is a top example of new opportunities in our growing partnership with landline companies.”

Air Canada last time offered a flight between YYZ and YGK in 2020, when Aviation Analytics company Cirium Shoot temporarily stopped service due to COVID-19.

Images show Air Canada plane and Air Canada landline bus.
Airbus A220 Canada and airlines in uniforms. Celian Genier/AirCanada

The Montreal-based airline partnered with landlines for the first time in 2024 with YYZ and services between John Monroe Hamilton International Airport (YHM) and Waterloo International Airport (YKF).

On a trip to and from YYZ, the landline is for Air Canada’s security services to operate outside the safe or land-side side. Sand said the company is working with airlines and relevant authorities to bring its tarmac services to Canada.

Travelers can win Air Canada loyalty points on all buses operated by Canada.

What happened to United Airlines?

Despite all its growth, landlines are abandoning one of its early partners. United Airlines’ bus service with Denver International Airport (DEN) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) will end on September 1.

Asked about the end of the Landline relationship with Manchester United, Sand said: “We are focused on growth and our independent Colorado business has just exceeded expectations.”

The company had previously said the move allowed it to seek “other opportunities.”

Landline buses at Denver Airport
A landline bus has a travel penguin logo at Denver International Airport. Edward Russell/TPG

Sunde added that the fact that travelers arrived at Den Landside challenged Landline’s actions with United, and then they had to clear the security in the busy hub. The bus departs from the airport and is at the air gate.

“The Hybrid Airside model is the middle ground you don’t want to go into because you spend a lot of time going into the tarmac, but you’re not in the direction that people really care about,” he said.

Starting August 1, landlines will expand its independent bus service between North Colorado Airport (FNL) and DEN in Fort Collins and expand it to 17 round trips. All buses will arrive and leave Den Landside.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also
Close
Back to top button