AC launches year-round Melb-Vancouver flights

By Hannah Edensor

Air Canada has revealed plans for further expansion of its Australian network, with the launch of year-round non-stop Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliner’ services between Melbourne and Vancouver from June 2018.

Air Canada will operate three non-stop Melbourne-Vancouver services a week from 3 June 2018, with flight AC038 departing at 09:40am each Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

Melbourne will become Air Canada’s third year-round port in Australia, with daily non-stop services currently operating from Sydney and Brisbane to Vancouver International Airport.

Lee Poh Kait, Air Canada Director Sales, Asia-Pacific, said the new Melbourne flights will establish Vancouver as a year-round gateway to North America for business and leisure travellers from across Australia’s south eastern states.

“For Victorians, South Australians and Tasmanians, the addition of a year-round Melbourne service will significantly reduce travel times to Vancouver, from where they can explore British Columbia’s world-renowned attractions,” he said.

“In addition, it will provide a friendly and efficient way to explore all of North America, with seamless connections to more than 100 destinations across Canada and Unites States, including popular cities such as New York, Las Vegas and Boston.”

The introduction in June 2018 of a year-round service from Australia’s second largest city will follow the completion of a seasonal service between Melbourne and Vancouver from 3 December 2017 to 4 February 2018 (the peak northern hemisphere winter period).

Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Simon Gandy added that the latest development shows the strength in the route.

“We’re delighted with Air Canada’s decision to expand its seasonal service into a year-round offering which reflects the popularity of the route with our holidaymakers,” said Gandy.

“We could see many of our travellers were excited to visit Vancouver for the northern winter season and it’s great to now facilitate travel well beyond the ski season.”

Poh Kait commented the decision also reflects the overwhelming support the airline has received from Air Canada’s valued trade partners in Australia.

Air Canada will operate the Melbourne-Vancouver route using its state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which offers passengers a choice of three cabins: International Business Class (featuring the airline’s next generation lie-flat pod), Premium Economy Class and Economy Class.

The new Melbourne service is timed to connect to and from domestic flights from Adelaide, Hobart and Perth operated by Air Canada’s codeshare partner Virgin Australia.

The addition of Melbourne is part of a strategic broadening of Air Canada’s international network from Vancouver. In June 2018, the airline will also launch non-stop international flights from Vancouver to Paris and Zurich, giving it a total of five European ports served from its trans-Pacific hub.

Flight details

Flight	Route	Frequency	Launches	Depart	Arrive Destination
AC038	Melbourne-Vancouver	three times weekly	June 3, 2018	09:40 Tue / Fri / Sun	07:35
AC037	Vancouver-Melbourne	three times weekly	June 1, 2018	22:45 Wed / Fri / Sun	07:55 (+2 days)

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