Air Canada to connect Vancouver with Dubai

Air Canada has announced that it will connect Vancouver with Dubai with a nonstop flight. The announcement comes after UAE and Canada expanded bilateral air services agreement.

Marhaba, Dubai!

Starting 28th October 2023, Air Canada will fly 4-times-a-week between Vancouver International Airport and Dubai International Airport. The flights will operate with the following schedule:

• Vancouver-Dubai
• Departure time: 21:50
• Arrival time: 23:50 (the next day)
• Flight time: 15 hours
• Flight number: AC78
• Frequency: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

• Dubai-Vancouver
• Departure time: 02:00
• Arrival time: 06:55
• Flight time: 15 hours and 55 minutes
• Flight number: AC79
• Frequency: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Flights will be operated by Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner featuring lie-flat Signature Class seats (Business Class), Premium Economy seats and standard Economy Class seats.

We are extremely pleased to add the only non-stop service linking Vancouver and Dubai, two iconic and vibrant global destinations. Dubai is one of the top destinations worldwide renowned for its extraordinary landmarks, rich culture and entertainment. Vancouver is a top cosmopolitan destination, and this new route offers additional ease to global visitors looking to experience BC’s spectacular natural beauty, range of outdoor activities and exciting adventures. 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 travelling for business or visiting friends and family.

said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President – Network Planning and Revenue Management, Air Canada.

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The flag carrier of Canada says that this will the only nonstop service on offer between Western Canada and the Middle East. The new Vancouver-Dubai route will complement Air Canada’s daily Toronto-Dubai flight.

We are delighted Air Canada is introducing new service to Dubai from YVR. 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. I’d like to thank Air Canada for its ongoing commitment to YVR and support with connecting B.C. to the world.

said Tamara Vrooman, President & CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority.

Air Canada adds that these flights have been conveniently timed for easy connections to/from Alberta, British Columbia and the Western United States.

Another new route between UAE and Canada

The new Vancouver-Dubai route is yet another one in the United Arab Emirates-Canada market. This will be the 3rd route that will nonstop flights, beside Toronto-Dubai and Toronto-Abu Dhabi.

This expansion has been made possible due to the recent expansion in bilateral air services agreement between the two countries, which now allows airlines on both sides to operate 21-weekly flights, instead of the previously-allowed 14-weekly flights.

While Emirates and Etihad decided to increase flights to daily on existing route to Toronto from their respective hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Air Canada has decided to open a whole new route. Air Canada already operates a daily flight between Toronto and Dubai, so it’s good for the airline to just open a new market, that too an unserved one.

UAE and Canada will now have 25-nonstop-flights-a-week when this new route begins. The break-up is as follows:

• Emirates – daily between Dubai and Toronto
• Etihad – daily between Abu Dhabi and Toronto
• Air Canada – daily between Toronto and Dubai & 4-weekly between Vancouver and Dubai

This will be the highest ever connectivity on offer between the two countries.

Last year, Emirates and Air Canada entered into a codeshare partnership, allowing greater access to each other’s destinations around the world. Although the Vancouver-Dubai flights are not yet under the codeshare agreement, if and when they do fall, that will result into Emirates having an increased opportunity to serve its passengers wanting to travel to/from Canada while Air Canada will have an ever greater access to destinations beyond Dubai.

Meanwhile, Air Canada recently announced that it will start flights between Montreal and Amsterdam.

Featured image by Air Canada

What do you think of Air Canada connecting Vancouver and Dubai with a nonstop flight? Let me know in the comments section below.

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