Air Canada announced the expansion of its international network with the addition of Bangkok, Thailand, the carrier’s first non-stop service to South-East Asia, plus the resumption of flights to Mumbai, its second destination in the strategic India market.
Pending government approval, the airline’s seasonal service to Bangkok will operate from its trans-Pacific hub at Vancouver International Airport, while the carrier’s Mumbai flights will operate from Toronto via London-Heathrow. Both routes are subject to receiving final government approvals.
“We are extremely pleased to be launching our first non-stop service to South-East Asia this winter,
AC Sr. VP Mark Galardo, noted that the former non-stop service, starting Dec. 1, will be the only one between North America and Thailand, adding that Thailand is a popular leisure destination for Canadians and this new service will give Aeroplan members opportunities to both earn and redeem their points.
“Bangkok flights will connect to our extensive domestic and trans-border network giving customers added seamlessness and choice when travelling,” he added.
The daily service to Mumbai, India’s largest city and an important financial, commercial, and entertainment hub, starts Oct. 29, and will compliment the 13 weekly flights from Canada to Delhi.
Galardo points out that service through LHR will afford connectivity to more than a dozen Air Canada and Star Alliance partner United Airlines flights between North America and London, as well as additional options for travel between the UK and India.
The India market remains very important to Air Canada, he says, adding, “We are committed to resuming our currently paused non-stop services on Toronto-Mumbai and Vancouver-Delhi when circumstances allow.”
Both flight services will be aboard Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
International network
Air Canada is also bolstering its international winter offering to the South Pacific region with the return of seasonal service from Vancouver to Auckland, New Zealand (from Nov. 10), and additional flights to Sydney and Brisbane (starting in December), Australia, as well as re-establishing international services to South America with the resumption of routes from Montreal and Toronto to Lima, Peru, on a seasonal basis (Oct. 30 and Nov. 4 respectively).
“We continue to pursue our strategy of expanding our global network in response to pent-up demand and expect to operate approximately 81% of 2019 international capacity this winter,” says Galardo.