Air Canada Continues Europe Expansion

Photo courtesy of Vancouver International Airport Facebook page

Air Canada is continuing its march towards international domination this week with the launch of three new flights to Europe.

Vancouver - Dublin

Late last Friday, the airline launched new seasonal service between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Dublin (DUB) Airport on Air Canada Rouge. The only non-stop service from Vancouver to Dublin Airport, the flight will depart three times per week until Oct. 8, 2016.

"Air Canada Rouge's new non-stop service to Dublin is a great step towards further connecting YVR with Europe," said Craig Richmond, president and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. "By establishing the only non-stop flight between YVR to Dublin, Air Canada Rouge is offering our customers another great destination while also contributing to YVR's growth plans."

Airport officials lauded ConnectYVR, the airport’s new rates and charges program, as a catalyst in bringing the flight to Vancouver. With rates that are reportedly lower than any other major airport in Canada as well as competing US airports, Vancouver International Airport offers an added incentive for airlines to land there.

The flight is being operated on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, with premium and economy cabins. Flights from Dublin will depart on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 11:35 a.m., arriving in Vancouver at 1:35 p.m. Flights from Vancouver will depart at 3:05 p.m., arriving in Dublin the following day at 8:35 a.m.

"We are pleased to add the only non-stop flights from Canada's West Coast to Ireland," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "This route offers convenience to Western Canadians travelling to visit and explore the Emerald Isle's rich landscapes, world-class golf and historic sites, as well as to Irish customers visiting the spectacular attractions Vancouver and British Columbia offer. We continue to strategically expand our Vancouver hub, and our seasonal Dublin flights follow our recent launch of non-stop flights from Vancouver to Brisbane, San Diego, Chicago, San Jose, and the doubling of our daily flights to London Heathrow."

"We warmly welcome the new Air Canada Rouge service between Vancouver and Dublin, which provides a major boost for both leisure and business tourism from western Canada to the island of Ireland,” said Dana Welch, Tourism Ireland's Manager Canada. “We look forward to working closely with Air Canada Rouge to maximise the promotion of this flight. As an island destination, the importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights cannot be overstated – they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism."

Toronto-Budapest

On Saturday, June 11, the airline also launched new service between Toronto-Pearson International Airport and Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, to further extend Air Canada Rouge's reach in Central Europe.

"We are pleased to add Budapest, a city rich in heritage along the banks of the Danube, to our growing international network," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines, at Air Canada. “The new service makes Air Canada the carrier operating the most seats between the Hungarian capital and North America. While an important tourist market, there are also many people of Hungarian heritage in North America and this new service will make it convenient for family, friends and relatives to visit one another by connecting through our Toronto-Pearson global hub. Budapest is the second Central European destination we have introduced this summer, with Prague recently launched and Warsaw to commence operating June 14."

The seasonal service will operate three-times per week through October 15, 2016, and offers the most seats between North America and Budapest among any airline. Service will be operated on a Boeing 767-300ER with Premium Rouge and Economy cabins.  Flights will depart Toronto on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and return Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Budapest.

Toronto-Glasgow

On Tuesday, June 15, Air Canada Rouge begins service between Toronto-Pearson and Glasgow Airport. The seasonal service will operate three times per week through Sept. 25, 2016. 

The flights are being operated on a Boeing 767-300ER, configured with Premium Rouge and Economy cabins. Flights depart Toronto on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and return Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Toronto-Warsaw

On Wednesday, June 16, the airline launched service between Toronto-Pearson International Airport and Warsaw Chopin Airport. The flight will operate three times weekly and departs Toronto at 18:30 on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, arriving at 9:30 a.m. the following day in Warsaw. Return flight AC1927 departs Warsaw at 11:00 and arrives Toronto 14:50 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The flight continues through Sept. 30, 2016.

This summer, Air Canada has launched international services between Toronto- Gatwick, Toronto-Prague, Toronto-Warsaw, Montreal-Casablanca, Vancouver-Brisbane and Vancouver-Dublin, and will soon launch other services between Toronto-Glasgow, Toronto-Seoul, and Montreal-Lyon..

For more information, visit www.aircanada.com

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