Star Alliance carrier Air Canada has announced it is strategically boosting its Asia-Pacific network capacity with additional flights and larger aircraft beginning mid-December through to the end of next summer 2024.
Vancouver-Hong Kong will see 11-weekly flights from 13 December to 29 February to support holiday and Lunar New Year travel, and 10-weekly flights from 1 March to 26 October.
The Vancouver-Bangkok winter seasonal service will be extended, with four-weekly flights to 5 May, and daily service between 8 January and 28 February.
Vancouver-Shanghai will remain a four-weekly 787-9 year-round service, but the Air Canada will upgrade the route to the higher-capacity 777-300ER aircraft between 1 December and 30 March.
As previously announced, a new Vancouver-Singapore route will launch with four weekly flights from 3 April.
To Japan, Vancouver-Osaka seasonal flights will begin earlier this time, on 1 May, with three weekly services. This will increase to four flights a week from 17 June.
Air Canada’s daily Vancouver-Narita flights will be upgauged to the 777-300ER until 30 April and then go back to daily 787-9 operations.
Montreal-Narita and Toronto-Narita will both be upgauged to daily 777-300ER flights for the full summer season, while the daily Toronto-Haneda service will see the 777-300ER operating to 30 March before returning to 787-9 flights.
To South Korea, Air Canada will operate daily Vancouver-Seoul and Toronto-Seoul services with the 787-9, although the Vancouver-Seoul flight will be upgauged to the 777-300ER from 30 March.
“Air Canada’s Asia services continue to reflect strong demand and we are boosting capacity to this geographic area as we deploy our international diversification strategy. This winter we are pleased to offer up to 57 flights per week between Canada and Asia, and up to 64 flights per week next summer.
Air Canada will have up to double daily flights to Hong Kong and larger aircraft operating to Shanghai during the December holiday and Lunar New Year travel periods. Capacity to Japan increases by 96% this winter compared to last year. Next spring, seasonal Osaka flights resume earlier and larger aircraft will operate to Narita and Seoul,” said Mark Galardo, executive vice president, revenue and network planning, at Air Canada.
“Our upcoming launch of our new route to Singapore and increased capacity on our successful Bangkok route underscores our continued commitment to investing in fast-growing markets in Southeast Asia,” Galardo added.
