Travellers departing from the convenient Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport now have a new premium option to relax while on their flights.
Swissport’s airport lounge brand, Aspire, has collaborated with Air Canada to launch the Aspire | Air Canada Café which opened June 1. Master Travellr was among a group of select media to view the space at a private event Thursday.
A new premium offering at YTZ accommodates 133 guests comfortably, and given the size of the airport and the number of departures at a given time, the lounge is right-sized for Billy Bishop. It is the 27th lounge in Air Canada’s lounge network and the sixth Canadian location for Aspire. For Air Canada, this serves Montreal commuters well as the airline currently only services YTZ-YUL. In the fall, Air Canada services to YOW (Ottawa) are scheduled to return.
In attendance were a range of Air Canada leaders, including Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Digital, and Scott O’Leary, Vice President, Loyalty and Product, who both celebrated the new offering, saying that this builds upon the airline’s strategy of offering passengers more ways to have a more comfortable journey. They say the expansion of this Air Canada Café is yet another way to reward Aeroplan frequent flyers, co-branded credit cardholders, and everyday travellers, too. The company has been on an aggressive journey to add value to the reimagined Aeroplan, and this is another stake in that promise.
“We know how much Air Canada customers, who travel frequently within the busy Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor, really value the convenience of flying out of Billy Bishop,” said Jacqueline Harkness, Managing Director, Product & Services, Air Canada. “Our new Aspire | Air Canada Café at Billy Bishop builds upon the success of our first Air Canada Café at Toronto-Pearson, and is just one more way Air Canada continues to invest in the best lounge network in Canada.”
Built with the environment in mind
The space is stunning—even more so given it is a domestic lounge and café. From top to bottom, the lounge is designed with the environment in mind, meeting LEED ID+C standards, a globally recognized certification that ensures space is designed using sustainable building practices.
The company says every detail has been thought through from high-quality wine being served on tap, eliminating the need for some 9,000 glass bottles per year, to water being provided via a filtered water system without any need for plastic bottles.
A lounge built for all
The lounge features a variety of seating options from lounge areas to communal seating, while flexible workspaces are available for business travellers to catch up on emails or take calls. The diversity of options is truly impressive and what caught my eye the moment I walked into the lounge. The airy environment is bright yet inviting, while an impressive selection of food and beverage will keep travellers comfortable as they await their flights.
Even more impressive are the beverages, from smoothies to juices, carbonated water taps to a wide selection of complimentary and for-purchase alcohol at the bar featuring local wines and spirits. What caught my eye, though is a tablet-operated espresso machine that dispenses craft lattes and coffees to keep you caffeinated!
For Air Canada customers who are Aeroplan 50K, 75K, and Super Elite status members, or Star Alliance Gold members, Aeroplan premium co-brand cardholders, or flying on a business class ticket, complimentary access is available.
Great for all domestic travellers
The space doesn’t shy away from promoting locally sourced food like breads and pastries baked on-site, while there’s a fantastic area where passengers can grab items to go if they don’t have time to sit down and enjoy a snack and beverage.
Premium Food and Beverage Offerings
- Self-serve hot and cold buffet curated by local chefs with fresh baked breads and pastries
- Hot and cold grab-n’-go selections
- Central bar with complimentary beverages and premium for-purchase beverages
Amenities and Space
- 4,271-square-foot (367-square-metre) premium space for work or relaxation
- Meeting room to book for collaborative or quiet co-working
- Additional workspace for taking calls
- Wireless chargers at almost every seat
- Super-fast and reliable Wi-Fi
- TVs broadcasting news and sports
The Aspire | Air Canada Café at YTZ is located in the domestic departures area and is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Unlike Air Canada’s owned-and-operated Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Café at Toronto-Pearson, this Aspire-partnered lounge is available to non-Air Canada travellers flying out of the same terminal, and passes can be booked online, or via partner membership programs like Priority Pass, Dragonpass, and American Express.
