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Air Canada launches new route, expands Asian and Australasian network

Air Canada launches new route, expands Asian and Australasian network
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Air Canada | Official Website

On April 2, Air Canada launched a new route from Vancouver to Manila, marking the airline's first service to the Philippines. This expansion adds to Air Canada's network of destinations in Asia and Australasia, now totaling a record 17 points when including the Middle East. Philippine Airlines has historically serviced this city pair, but Air Canada's introduction makes it the second North American airline, alongside United, to offer flights to the Philippines.

The Filipino community in Canada, numbering around one million, consists of the largest number of overseas Filipinos outside the United States, with a significant portion residing in British Columbia. Data indicates that 150,000 round-trip passengers traveled between Vancouver and Manila in the year leading up to July 2024, with a majority flying with Philippine Airlines for personal travel purposes such as visiting family and friends.

Air Canada's new route, spanning 5,707 nautical miles (10,569 km), will be operated four times weekly on a Boeing 787-9. Despite the route being considered low-yielding, partly due to affordable fares, Air Canada was encouraged to introduce this service following positive reception to its Vancouver to Bangkok route inaugurated in 2022.

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Flights to Manila are scheduled locally as AC17, departing Vancouver at 01:55, arriving in Manila at 06:20 two days later. The return, AC18, departs Manila at 09:25 and reaches Vancouver on the same day at 06:20. Air Canada plans to attract not only local but also connecting passengers from other major Canadian and US markets, including Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Montreal.

Air Canada's network growth this year also includes the introduction of Singapore flights from Vancouver, which started in April 2024, succeeding Singapore Airlines' discontinued service. Additional routes from Air Canada include a revived Beijing Capital service that resumed in January 2025 and expected Tel Aviv routes from Toronto and Montreal later this year, subject to the conflict in Israel and Palestine.

The expansion signifies Air Canada's increased capacity in Asia and Australasia, previously at 16 airports in 2020, before the suspension of multiple routes due to the pandemic.

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