MONTREAL — What happens in Vegas starts right here in Canada as travellers will have the ability to book best-priced tickets for all eight spectacular Cirque du Soleil shows either when they book their Air Canada Vacations packages or, for more spontaneous travellers, directly from their seats aboard Air Canada rouge flights to Las Vegas.

The inflight booking program for Cirque du Soleil tickets, the first of its kind in Canada, will start Jan. 1, 2015 from Montreal, with a view to expanding across Canada in the future. This new service is a result of a partnership between Cirque du Soleil, MGM Resorts International and Air Canada Vacations that was announced at an event held at Cirque du Soleil headquarters.

According to Michael Friisdahl, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada Leisure Group, this partnership is great news for consumers. “Air Canada rouge operates 38 direct flights a week from Canadian cities to Las Vegas, making it one of our most popular destinations. We know that our passengers want access to the best Cirque du Soleil shows at the best prices, and we are delighted to add this new program to the list of services – things like airport transfers and great car rental packages – that we already provide our Vegas clients. We are proud to launch the program in Montreal where Cirque du Soleil began, and look forward to expanding the program to other cities soon.”

To celebrate the launch of this program, every passenger who books a package to Las Vegas with Air Canada Vacations from now until Nov. 15, 2014, and completes their travel before April 9, 2015, will receive a free ticket to one of three Cirque du Soleil performances: KÀ at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Zarkana at ARIA Resort & Casino, or Zumanity, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil at New York-New York Hotel & Casino.

Cirque du Soleil’s Vegas show venues are located at resorts including Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage, all part of MGM Resorts International, a significant hotel partner for Air Canada Vacations.

Canadians represent 36% of the total international visitor market to the city. Canada is the largest international market for the Las Vegas.

Daily nonstop flights to Las Vegas aboard Air Canada rouge aircraft operate from Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.