Air Canada Sets Sights on Dubai with Latest Route Expansion from Vancouver
The Canadian flag carrier will operate four weekly flights between Vancouver and Dubai beginning in late October
Photo: Dubai, UAE. Courtesy of Wael Hneini / Unsplash
Air Canada is set to expand its footprint in the Middle East by launching a new route between Vancouver and Dubai later this year.
Starting October 28, Air Canada will launch four weekly flights between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Dubai International Airport (DXB).
“We are delighted Air Canada is introducing a new service to Dubai from YVR,” said Tamara Crooman, President & CEO of Vancouver Airport Authority. “Direct service to Dubai, with convenient onward connection to southern India and other key destinations across the Middle East, will provide new opportunities for travel, education, and access to global markets that will help meet the needs of our community and economy that supports it.”
Photo: Air Canada, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Courtesy of John McArthur / Unsplash
Air Canada will use one of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to operate the route, which has a total capacity of 298 passengers across three cabins, including 30 seats in Business Class and 21 Premium Economy seats, with the remaining 247 seats in the standard Economy class.
Once the route initiates in October, Air Canada will be the only airline offering nonstop service between Vancouver and Dubai. However, it will complement the Canadian flag carrier’s 7x weekly service to Dubai from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). At the same time, its codeshare partner Emirates currently operates five weekly Dubai-Toronto flights, which will increase to a daily service from next week. Etihad Airways will also provide competition in the Canada-UAE market, operating seven weekly flights from Toronto to Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) from late May.
False Creek and the Burrard street bridge in Vancouver, Canada / Photo: Hannamariah/Shutterstock
“We are extremely pleased to add the only nonstop service linking Vancouver and Dubai, two iconic and vibrant global destinations,” said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada.
“In cooperation with our codeshare and frequent flyer partner Emirates, our Vancouver-Dubai flights will connect to a multitude of destinations across the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and East Africa in Dubai, providing customers with choice and convenience while traveling for business or visiting friends and family.”
The outbound journey – flight AC78 – is scheduled to depart Vancouver at 8:50 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and arrive in Dubai the following day at 11:50 PM local time. The return leg – flight AC79 – will set off from Dubai at 2:00 AM on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and touch down in Vancouver at 5:55 AM.
