Further strategic expansion of YVR hub following announcements of new route to Brisbane, Australia, double daily flights to London Heathrow, and three new transborder routes

VANCOUVER, Nov. 25, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today announced a further, strategic expansion of its Vancouver hub with the addition of the only non-stop flights to Dublin, Ireland next summer. This new seasonal route follows the recent announcement of several enhancements at the airline's Vancouver hub for 2016, including new transborder services to Chicago, San Jose and San Diego, double daily flights to London Heathrow, and the only flights linking Canada to Brisbane, Australia. The Vancouver-Dublin flights will be operated three times weekly by Air Canada's leisure airline, Air Canada rouge, with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft beginning June 10, 2016. To promote the new route, Air Canada is offering a special introductory fare starting as low as $839 round-trip all-in from Vancouver, and $949 round-trip all-in from Calgary or Edmonton, until December 4 for travel June 10-30, 2016. Tickets are now available for purchase.

"Air Canada continues to strategically grow its international network at YVR with the only non-stop flights to Dublin during the peak summer period. This route is a great, convenient option for Western Canadians travelling to visit the vibrant Emerald Isle with its rich literary history, arts, world-class golf and dramatic landscapes. It will also be equally appealing for our customers from Ireland flying non-stop to visit and experience the spectacular attractions Vancouver and British Columbia offer," said Benjamin Smith, Air Canada President, Passenger Airlines.

"This new route is the latest of numerous improvements for customers coming in 2016 including double daily flights to London Heathrow, three new routes to the United States, new non-stop, year-round flights to Brisbane, Australia and increased capacity on our flights from Vancouver to Sydney, Australia with Boeing 777 aircraft featuring our new international product standard offering a choice of Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy cabins. With these initiatives, Air Canada is further strengthening YVR as a strategic and important international gateway, connecting our extensive B.C., Western Canada and growing U.S. network with our expanding South Pacific, Asian and European network."

"Air Canada's strategic growth plans out of YVR continue to offer passengers exciting choices for travel, while creating new jobs, increasing access to global destinations and opening new markets for B.C. goods," said Craig Richmond, President and CEO of Vancouver Airport Authority. "The new Dublin service will help fill the high demand for flights to Europe during the busy summer travel season and will also offer a new opportunity for British Columbia to showcase itself to arriving visitors from Ireland."

Air Canada rouge's new Vancouver-Dublin flights begin June 10, 2016, operating three times weekly with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring premium and economy cabins. Flights are timed to optimize connectivity to and from Air Canada's extensive west coast network through the airline's Vancouver hub.  All Air Canada flights provide for Aeroplan accumulation and redemption and, for eligible customers, priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access, priority boarding and other benefits.

As a result of its ongoing expansion, Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 63 airports in Canada, 52 in the United States and 86 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America.

This year to date, Air Canada has launched new international services from Montreal-Venice, Montreal-Mexico City, Toronto-Amsterdam, Toronto-Dubai, Toronto-Delhi and Vancouver-Osaka.

Next summer, Air Canada will be launching new international services from Montreal-Casablanca, Montreal-Lyon, Toronto-Prague, Toronto-Budapest, Toronto-Glasgow, Toronto-London Gatwick, Toronto-Warsaw, Toronto-Seoul, Vancouver-Brisbane and Vancouver-Dublin.

About Air Canada and Air Canada rouge

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 200 airports on six continents. Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2014 served more than 38 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 63 airports in Canada, 52 in the United States and 86 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,321 airports in 193 countries. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax. For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook.

Air Canada rouge is Air Canada's leisure airline. Together with Air Canada Vacations, Air Canada rouge offers competitively-priced travel to 60 exciting leisure destinations on 85 routes in Europe, Mexico, the U.S., the Caribbean, Asia, South America, Africa and Canada. As a wholly-owned subsidiary, Air Canada rouge is backed by Air Canada's 77-year reputation for safety and reliability and Air Canada Vacations' 30-plus year history of vacation travel excellence. For more information, visit www.flyrouge.com or to book a flight visit www.aircanada.com. Visit Air Canada rouge on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aircanadarouge.

SOURCE Air Canada - Route & Network