5-4-2024 (SINGAPORE) After a hiatus of over three decades, Air Canada has made its grand return to Singapore, reintroducing flights to and from Vancouver in western Canada, with services commencing on April 4.
Marking a significant milestone, the Canadian national carrier’s non-stop service marks the first direct connection between Singapore and Vancouver since 1991, filling the void left by Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) suspension of services on this route six months ago.
Air Canada’s inaugural non-stop flight from Vancouver touched down at Changi Airport on April 4 at 7:36 am, with the return flight departing Singapore at 9:50 am.
Operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft, this route spans nearly 13,000 kilometers, representing Air Canada’s longest flight by distance. The journey from Singapore to Vancouver covers a duration of 14 hours and 40 minutes.
During a press conference held at the JW Marriott Singapore South Beach hotel to mark the launch, Mr. David Rheault, Vice President of Government and Community Relations at Air Canada, revealed that both inbound and outbound flights operated at full capacity, underscoring the robust demand for this new service.
Emphasizing the strategic importance of the new route, Mr. Rheault stated, “It represents the deepening bonds and mutual opportunities for enhanced collaboration for tourism, trade, businesses, partnership, cultural and institutional exchange between Canada and Singapore.”
Air Canada plans to operate non-stop flights between Singapore and Vancouver four times a week initially, with a fifth weekly flight scheduled to be added in December.
SIA’s decision to halt its non-stop service between Singapore and Vancouver in September 2023 created a gap in the market, which Air Canada aims to capitalize on. Explaining the rationale behind the resumption of the route, Mr. Rheault highlighted the growing market potential and the burgeoning relationships between Canada and the Southeast Asia region.
Looking ahead, Mr. Rheault hinted at the possibility of increasing flight frequencies in response to market demand, affirming Air Canada’s commitment to adapt to changing travel patterns.
Ms. Kiyo Weiss, Senior Director of Sales for the Asia-Pacific at Air Canada, emphasized the significance of the Singapore route as the carrier’s only year-round service in Southeast Asia. She noted that while Air Canada’s flights to Bangkok are seasonal, the Singapore route offers consistent connectivity throughout the year.
The resumption of flights between Singapore and Vancouver is expected to bolster people-to-people exchanges, tourism, business, and academic links between the two nations, according to Canada’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Jean-Dominique Ieraci, and Ms. Bridget Anderson, President and Chief Executive of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.
With burgeoning trade ties and a shared commitment to fostering closer relations, the renewed air link between Singapore and Vancouver heralds a new chapter in bilateral cooperation and connectivity.
