MONTREAL — Air Canada has begun to gradually reopen its Maple Leaf Lounges with new biosafety protocols to help ensure the well-being of its guests and employees.

Opening first on July 24 to eligible customers travelling on a domestic or international flight will be the Maple Leaf Lounge at Toronto Pearson, D gates. This will be followed by the lounges located in the domestic departure areas at airports in Montreal and Vancouver in the coming weeks.

New multi-layered protocols include mandatory face coverings for customers and employees, plexiglass partitions at welcome desks, food and refreshments pre-packaged to go, as well as a modified assisted beverage service.

In addition, to better safeguard customers, attendants will continuously clean lounge seating and restrooms, while enhanced cleaning measures using electrostatic units and medical grade disinfectants will also be enforced. New lounge services will also offer several touchless features, including presentation of all reading materials in digital format through PressReader.

“The Maple Leaf Lounge experience has been completely re-thought with a range of industry-leading biosafety measures in place for the safety of customer and employees alike,” said Andrew Yiu, Vice President, Product at Air Canada. “We will progressively reopen other Maple Leaf Lounges throughout our network starting with Montreal Trudeau Airport and Vancouver International Airport by early fall in time for the expected resumption of more business travel.”

Yiu also noted that the Air Canada Café will reopen later this year with touchless self-entry, a process the airline is looking to implement at other lounges.

For more details go to aircanada.com/serviceoffering.