AC Flies 300 Firefighters From Johannesburg to Edmonton

Air Canada flew 300 South African firefighters into Edmonton from Johannesburg, South Africa, over the weekend.

The firefighters are from South Africa’s Working on Fire Program and will assist in firefighting efforts underway in Northern Alberta.

It is the organization’s largest-ever deployment.

“Air Canada’s employees have once again risen to the challenge to make this mission possible,” said Marcel Forget, senior vice-president, Commercial Strategy. “This is the first time Air Canada has operated into South Africa, which also required rescheduling flights to make one of our largest aircraft [a Boeing 777-200LR] available in order to accommodate this request.”

Air Canada operated the flight on behalf of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, in co-operation with the Alberta Government with 17 Air Canada crew members on board.

(photo – CNW Group/Air Canada)