If you are planning on taking some flights to Vancouver in the coming months, the options from Canadian airlines have increased.
Canada's two largest airlines launched numerous new routes across Canada to destinations around the world this summer, including several from the Lower Mainland.
And while it has serviced Eastern Canada for 16 years, Porter Airlines announced in February that it would be launching its first route from Vancouver, with direct service to the nation's capital slated to commence in the summer.
Have a look at some new routes from B.C.'s biggest airport.
Air Canada announces three new Vancouver routes
Air Canada will commence four flights weekly connecting Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Singapore's Changi International Airport (SIN) starting on April 3, 2024, marking the airline's first direct service between the cities in over three decades.
Canada's flag carrier says the new route will offer greater connectivity for travellers venturing onward to destinations across North America via YVR, and at SIN, to and from destinations across "Southeast Asia, South India, and Western Australia with Star Alliance and codeshare partner Singapore Airlines," according to a news release.
The outbound service from YVR will be available in April 2024 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, departing at 12:15 a.m. The return service from SIN will leave at 9.10 a.m. (local time) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Singapore Airlines currently offers a direct service between the two cities but has decided to end the route in September.
Air Canada will also offer a new, direct service to Dubai starting in the fall. The route will operate four times weekly beginning Oct. 28, onboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The plane features three cabins of service for customers to choose from, including Signature Class with lie-flat seats, Premium Economy, and Economy Class.
The carrier currently also offers a daily non-stop service between Toronto and Dubai.
Air Canada also kicked off the summer season with the introduction of a new U.S. route, connecting YVR with the Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington, DC.
The new route will operate five times weekly, with flights departing YVR at 8:15 a.m. and departing IAD at 5:10 p.m. (EST). Air passengers will travel on the 737 MAX 8, which has a seat capacity of 169 passengers.
WestJet announces new Vancouver routes
Canada's second-largest airline commenced two new routes out of Vancouver this year, with trips to Atlanta, Georgia, and Nashville, Tennessee.
The Atlanta route launched May 17 and operates four times weekly, with red-eye flights leaving Vancouver on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 10:25 p.m. and arriving in the capital of Georgia at 6:05 a.m. the next day.
The return flights leave Atlanta on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 9 a.m. (Eastern) and aim to arrive in Vancouver at 11:23 a.m.
The Nashville flights launched May 19 and operate twice weekly, departing from YVR on Mondays and Fridays at 10 a.m., and arriving in the Tennessee hub at 4:19 p.m. The return flights are also on Mondays and Fridays. They leave Nashville at 5:05 p.m. and arrive in Vancouver at 7:55 p.m.
Porter Airlines announces new Vancouver route
Porter Airlines launched a new non-stop route connecting YVR with Ottawa International Airport (YOW) on July 26.
The airline offers a daily round-trip flight, with planes leaving Vancouver at 7:45 a.m. and arriving in Ottawa at 4:03 p.m. In the other direction, the Ottawa flight is scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. and arrive in Vancouver at 7:37 p.m.
Travellers will fly on the 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, which is considered the most environmentally-friendly single-aisle aircraft. It has the lowest fuel consumption per seat and per trip among 120 to 150-seat aircraft and is the quietest single-aisle jet flying today.
With files from Glen Korstrom.
