Air Canada Launches Rouge, A New Budget Airline

Air Canada has announced the launch of Rouge, a budget air carrier that will fly from Canada to Europe and the Caribbean beginning July 1.

There's no word yet on if the food served onboard will be the same or similar to that served on Air Canada. Air Canada serves a limited pay-on-board menu that includes Quiznos pizza, sandwiches like a vegetarian Panini with red pepper hummus, and Greek yogurt with blueberry and pomegranate, and snacks like apples with caramel dip, Nissin Cup Noodles, Pringles potato chips, and Twizzlers candy.

Rouge passengers will be treated to complimentary nonalcoholic beverages and have the option to purchase buy-on-board snacks, hot and cold meals, and alcoholic beverages on Caribbean flights. Details on the buy-on-board menu have not been released.

Those traveling to Europe are treated to different food option. Those seated in Rouge and Rouge Plus seating are served complimentary hot meals and nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages and premium Rouge Premium passengers are served a lineup of yet-to-be revealed hot meals on fine China paired with wines along with snacks and nonalcoholic drinks.

Other amenities include duty-free shopping, a free in-flight magazine, and a wireless in-flight entertainment system that passengers can access for a fee on their own devices like laptops and smartphones.

Rouge will fly two new service routes to Edinburgh and Venice that are not covered by Air Canada. Rouge will also fly from Montreal and Toronto to Liberia and San José in Costa Rica; Cayo Coco, Holguin, Santa Clara, and Varadero in Cuba; Punta Cana and Samana in the Dominican Republic; Athens, and Kingston, Jamaica.

Lauren Mack is the Special Projects Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @lmack.