TORONTO — Executives with Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat and Iberia were granted a royal audience with His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain – appropriately enough, at the Fairmont Royal York.
Spain’s Isabel Martín Benítez, Consul for Tourism Affairs in Canada (Spain Tourism Office in Canada) organized the meet-up, aimed at highlighting the increased connectivity between Spain and Canada.
Says Martín Benítez: “In 2022, there were only eight routes, while in 2026 there will be 17 direct flights between Canada and Spain. The number of seats has nearly tripled over the past four years, from 202,000 to 537,000.”
She adds that in 2026, there will be direct flights to seven Spanish cities, including, for the first time, the islands. The new Montreal – Mallorca route will be launched this summer plus this winter there will be direct connections to the Canary Islands, with direct flights from both Montreal and Toronto to Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Another new development in 2026 is the addition of a Spanish airline, IBERIA, which will begin operating flights from Toronto to Madrid next June.
“With this meeting between His Majesty the King and representatives of the airlines, the Spain Tourism Office in Canada wished to highlight this significant growth and the strengthening of the connection between the two countries,” she says.
Airline execs in attendance included …
Air Canada
.Daniela Mauro – Director, International Affairs and Facilitation
. Joseph Malalla – Principal, International Affairs
. Aaron Balinsky Director, Market Development & Sales Strategy
WestJet
. Steve Mc Clelland – VP Loyalty, Commercial & Business Development
. Sam Taylor – Group Executive VP and Chief Experience Officer
Iberia
. Juan Cierco – Corporate Director
Air Transat
. Annick Guérard – President and CEO
. Sebastian Ponce – Chief Revenue Officer
Also in attendance were the First Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister of Economy, Trade and Business, Carlos Cuervo Caballero and the President of Airbus in Spain, Francisco Javier Sánchez Segura, as well as the Ambassador of Canada in Spain, and the Ambassador of Spain in Canada.
Lead image caption: His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain (centre) meets with executives from Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet and Iberia and other dignitaries at a Fairmont Royal York event hosted by the Consul for Tourism Affairs in Canada (Spain Tourism Office in Canada (photo credit Casa de S.M. el Rey)
