Cleveland Hopkins launches direct flight to Montreal

• Montreal, the so-called Paris of North America, is a bustling, cosmopolitan destination that could be a perfect summer getaway for Northeast Ohio travelers looking to scratch a European itch.

Driving the news: Air Canada will launch nonstop service Friday on a 76-seat regional jet.

• The flight will depart daily from CLE at 2:45pm and arrive in Montreal (YUL) at 4:23pm.
• The return flight will depart YUL at 4:30pm, arriving at 6:11pm.

The big picture: The new route builds on Cleveland's limited international portfolio, which is headlined by the Aer Lingus route to Dublin and also includes routes to Cancun, Punta Cana and Toronto.

• It also strengthens ties to Air Canada's international network, connecting local travelers to additional destinations through its Montreal and Toronto hubs.
• A one-stop trip to Casablanca, you say?

💭 Sam's thought bubble: I visited Montreal in the dead of winter in 2019, and managed to have a blast in sub-zero temperatures.

• I'd love to go back to tour Habitat 67, the brutalist concrete apartment complex designed for the World's Fair in 1967.

🏎️ Local Formula 1 fans, take note! Montreal hosts the Grand Prix of Canada May 22-24.

The bottom line: It's time for all of us to brush up on our French.