Star Alliance carrier Air Canada has announced it will strategically increase capacity on its Asia-Pacific network from mid-December until late next summer 2024 with additional flights and larger aircraft.
Flights from Vancouver to Hong Kong will operate 11 times a week between 13 December and 29 February to support holiday and Lunar New Year travel, and 10 times a week between 1 March and 26 October.
The winter seasonal service from Vancouver to Bangkok will be extended to 5 May with four weekly flights and daily flights from 8 January to 28 February.
The Vancouver-Shanghai route will remain a 787-9 year-round, but Air Canada will upgrade the route to the higher capacity 777-300ER aircraft between 1 December and 30 March.
As previously announced, the new Vancouver to Singapore route will launch on 3 April with four weekly flights.
Seasonal flights to Japan from Vancouver to Osaka will launch on 1 May with three flights per week. This will increase to four flights per week from 17 June.
Air Canada's daily Vancouver-Narita flights will be upgraded to a 777-300ER before reverting to a 787-9 by 30 April.
Throughout the summer, both the Montreal-Narita and Toronto-Narita routes will be upgraded to daily 777-300ER flights, while the Toronto-Haneda route will operate daily 777-300ER flights until 30 March before reverting to 787-9s.
To South Korea, Air Canada will operate daily Vancouver-Seoul and Toronto-Seoul flights using the 787-9, although the Vancouver-Seoul flight will be upgraded to the 777-300ER from 30 March.
"Air Canada's Asia service continues to reflect strong demand, and we are increasing capacity in this geographic region as we deploy our international diversification strategy. We are pleased to offer up to 57 flights per week between Canada and Asia this winter and up to 64 flights per week next summer.
During the December holiday and Lunar New Year period, Air Canada will double its flights to Hong Kong and add one flight to Shanghai. Capacity to Japan has increased by 96 per cent this winter compared to last year. Next spring, seasonal Osaka flights will resume earlier with larger aircraft to Narita and Seoul," said Mark Galardo, Air Canada's executive vice-president for revenue and network planning.
Galardo added:- "Our upcoming new route to Singapore, as well as increased capacity on our successful Bangkok route, underscores our continued commitment to investing in the fast-growing Southeast Asian market."