Air Canada Announces Executive Shakeup

Image: PHOTO: Air Canada Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. (photo courtesy of Air Canada)
Image: PHOTO: Air Canada Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. (photo courtesy of Air Canada)
TravelPulse Staff
by TravelPulse Staff
Last updated: 4:27 PM ET, Tue March 27, 2018

WHY IT RATES: For travel agents working with Canadian clients or those looking to visit the country, Air Canada is making executive changes to continue providing travelers with an elite experience.-Donald Wood, Breaking News Senior Writer.


Air Canada President of Passenger Airlines, Benjamin Smith, announced the appointment of Robert Alan (Al) Read as Vice President, Airports - North America today. Prior to this appointment, Read was Vice President, Operations at Air Canada Rouge.

"A top priority for Air Canada is the continual improvement of the airport experience for our customers, including ease of connections," said Smith. "We know this is also a key consideration for global travelers. Al Read, with his wide experience in all aspects of airline operations, is well- suited to lead our airport teams as we take customer service and our airport operations to the next level, especially at our Toronto-Pearson global hub and hubs in Vancouver and Montreal."

As Vice President, Airports - North America, Read has overall responsibility for the strategic direction and leadership of Air Canada's airport operational reliability and customer service delivered across the continent. He also has oversight of Air Canada's Concierge program that offers priority and premium ground services to the airline's most frequent customers at more than 40 airports worldwide.

Read began his career at Air Canada in 1979 on the front line as a ramp Station Attendant at Toronto-Pearson. He has held progressively senior management positions across various branches of customer sales and service, resource planning, cargo operations and system operations control.

In 2012, as Vice President, Operations at Air Canada Rouge, he was responsible for operational aspects of the leisure carrier's start-up and since 2015 overall management responsibility for Air Canada Rouge.

Topics From This Article to Explore

Get To Know Us Better

Agent At Home

Helping leisure selling travel agents successfully manage their at-home business.

Subscribe For Free

Agent Specialization: Group Travel

Laurence Pinckney

Laurence Pinckney

CEO of Zenbiz Travel, LLC

About Me
Agent At Home

Helping leisure selling travel agents successfully manage their at-home business.

Subscribe For Free

Agent Specialization: Group Travel

Laurence Pinckney

Laurence Pinckney

CEO of Zenbiz Travel, LLC

About Me

Become A Travel Expert

Upcoming Webinar
Porter Airlines WebinarSEP 28 2PM ETJoin Porter's webinar and learn how we are turning the idea of economy air travel "upside down".
Upcoming Event
Destination Leisure Travel ExpoOctober 11-12 2-5PM ETDestination Leisure Travel Expo
Upcoming Event
Culinary & Wellness Travel ExpoNovember 15-16 2-5PM ETCulinary & Wellness Travel Expo
Upcoming Webinar
Porter Airlines WebinarSEP 28 2PM ETJoin Porter's webinar and learn how we are turning the idea of economy air travel "upside down".
Upcoming Event
Destination Leisure Travel ExpoOctober 11-12 2-5PM ETDestination Leisure Travel Expo
Upcoming Event
Culinary & Wellness Travel ExpoNovember 15-16 2-5PM ETCulinary & Wellness Travel Expo