Strategically increases international flights at YVR hub following announcement of the only non-stop flights to Brisbane, Australia

VANCOUVER, Oct. 30, 2015 /CNW/ - Air Canada today announced it is boosting international flights at its Vancouver hub next summer with double daily flights from YVR to London Heathrow. In addition, the airline's new non-stop flights from Vancouver to Brisbane, Australia will now launch two weeks earlier on June 1 to meet demand.

"Air Canada is strategically increasing its international flights at YVR with a second daily flight to London Heathrow next summer in response to seasonal travel demand," said Benjamin Smith, Air Canada President, Passenger Airlines. "Our second London flight beginning June 1 will be operated with new state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, and in fact, both London flights will feature our newly designed International Business Class product, and offer customers a choice of three cabins of service and industry-leading amenities.

"We are the only airline to fly double daily to London next summer from YVR.  With this along with our new non-stop, year-round flights to Brisbane, Australia now beginning on June 1, plus increased capacity on flights from YVR to Sydney, Australia with Boeing 777 aircraft that will be newly converted, featuring our new international product standard offering a choice of three cabins of service, Air Canada is reinforcing YVR as an important hub, connecting our B.C., Western Canada and U.S. routes with our South Pacific, Asian and European network," concluded Mr. Smith.

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.

In addition, Air Canada's new Brisbane flights now begin June 1, 2016, operating three times weekly with the carrier's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.  For more information on Air Canada's Boeing 787 Dreamliner and new international product, please visit:  www.787.aircanada.com

Since 2009, Air Canada has increased its system-wide international capacity, measured by seats, by approximately 50 per cent. This year, Air Canada launched new international services from Montreal to Venice and Mexico City, Vancouver to Osaka, and Toronto to Amsterdam. In November, the airline will launch non-stop service to Dubai and Delhi from Toronto and it has also announced new service beginning in 2016 to Seoul, Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Glasgow and London-Gatwick from Toronto; Brisbane from Vancouver, and Lyon and Casablanca from Montreal.

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.

SOURCE Air Canada