Photo via Air Canada

Air Canada and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) are celebrating another first this week, as they launch Canada’s first-ever non-stop flight to Brisbane, Australia. Currently operating three times per week, the new flight is slated to begin daily service in mid-June.

"We're connecting B.C. proudly to the world, one new destination at a time," said Craig Richmond, President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. "No airport in Canada has ever had service to Brisbane; but this service has come about because of our strength as both a destination and a connecting hub, and because of our industry-beating airline rates and charges program. In this process we've built strong relationships with Canadian and Australian tourism partners and with Brisbane Airport, who we'll continue to work with to make this new route successful."

In addition to serving to increase tourism to Australia, as well as driving more Australian visitors to Canada’s west coast, the new flight opens up new business opportunities between the two countries, which jointly conduct more than C$ 1.7 billion dollars in trade. The new service is expected to account for 264 new jobs in British Columbia, reflecting some $10.4 million in wages as well as $18 million in Gross Domestic Product for the province.

"We are delighted to launch the only non-stop, year-round service between Canada and Brisbane, a significant commercial business hub and tourism gateway to one of Australia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Great Barrier Reef," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "Our flights ramp up to daily service on June 17, underscoring Vancouver airport's attractiveness for linking North America and Australia. YVR's seamless connections through in-transit pre-clearance facilities, combined with our extensive domestic and U.S. network radiating from Vancouver, position YVR to be the preferred gateway hub for trans-Pacific travel to and from North America. We look forward to welcoming onboard both business and leisure customers travelling between North America and Australia."

Air Canada will use a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, seating up to 251 passengers in three classes of service–20 in International Business; 21 in Premium Economy, and; 210 in Economy—on the new route.

Flight AC35 departs YVR at 11:45 p.m., arriving in Brisbane at 7:15 a.m. two days later. Flight AC36 departs Brisbane at 10:40 a.m., arriving at YVR at 7:15 a.m. on the same day. The flights, timed to connect passengers to Air Canada's domestic and U.S. network, will be the fastest route between Brisbane to New York, supporting YVR's ambitions to establish a toehold as a premier North American gateway.

For more information, visit www.yvr.ca.

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