Air Canada announced a strategic expansion in the South Pacific by returning its daily service to Sydney (SYD) and resuming operations to Brisbane (BNE) and Auckland (AKL). The airline’s Australia and New Zealand flights operate from the transpacific hub from Vancouver (YVR).
«Air Canada is consolidating its market-leading position as the airline providing the most service between Canada and the South Pacific. We are accelerating the restoration of our Australia and New Zealand routes to respond to the travel backlog between our countries as they reopen borders» said Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s senior vice president of network planning and revenue management.
Words from Mike McNaney (Vice president and director of external affairs for the Vancouver Airport Authority):
«Canadians are eager to travel to the South Pacific and reunite with family and friends after nearly two years of border restrictions. We are looking forward to these flights to Brisbane and Auckland taking off from YVR in July and November»
Between June 2018 to June 2019 , Air Canada moved 403,575 passengers with an occupancy factor of 79.7% and 7,930.8 tonnes of cargo in 1,800 air operations. (Source:Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development)
Prior to the pandemic, 3,663 visitors from Canada traveled to New Zealand for business, 41,397 for tourism, and 21,228 to visit loved ones. (Source: New Zealand Government Statistics)
The Canadian flag carrier in 2019 offered a total of 523,478 on 1860 flights to Australia and New Zealand. (Source:Cirium platform).Air Canada is one of the main operators between North America and the South Pacific.
Air Canada’s schedule to Australia and New Zealand
| Flight | From | To | Days of week | Departs | Arrives | Aircraft | Begins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC033 | Vancouver (YVR) | Sydney (SYD) | Ramps up to daily beginning aerly May | 23:15 | 07:45+2 | Boeing 777-200LR | Currently operating |
| AC034 | Sydney (SYD) | Vancouver (YVR) | Ramps up to daily beginning aerly May | 09:30 | 07:10 | Boeing 777-200LR | Currently operating |
| AC035 | Vancouver (YVR) | Brisbane (BNE) | Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday | 22:55 | 06:35+2 | Boeing 787 Dreamliner | July 1, 2022 |
| AC036 | Brisbane (BNE) | Vancouver (YVR) | Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday | 10:15 | 06:50 | Boeing 787 Dreamliner | July 3, 2022 |
| AC039 | Vancouver (YVR) | Auckland (AKL) | Monday, Thursday and Saturday | 22:45 | 10:05+2 | Boeing 787 Dreamliner | November 10, 2022 |
| AC040 | Auckland (AKL) | Vancouver (YVR) | Monday, Thursday and Saturday | 14:30 | 06:30 | Boeing 787 Dreamliner | November 12, 2022 |
See also: Air Canada resumes 34 long-haul routes for the 2022 boreal summer season
