Over the past year, it would seem that Air Canada has gone on a bit of a shopping spree for new international destinations, walking away with seven new hot spots and raising their total number served to 66 on five continents from their hub in Toronto. Since December, 2013, Canada’s flagship carrier has added non-stop service to Panama City, Tokyo (Haneda), Osaka, Rio de Janeiro, Amsterdam, Delhi and now, UAE’s Dubai.
Air Canada has stressed that the addition of some of the routes, namely the furthest away cities of Delhi and Dubai, are a direct result of their recent acquisition of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a far-reaching yet more economically efficient equipment option than they’ve previously (and unsuccessfully) tried on the Toronto to Delhi route in the past. The addition of the 787-900 series aircraft will make the route not only more affordable to operate but it hopes to draw more business travellers from both Canada and the United States, looking to avoid connecting in Europe or the Middle East on their way to India.
Toronto to Delhi non-stop service will begin on November 1st, 2015 and feature Air Canada’s award-winning, three-cabin service, including the next generation lie-flat seats in Business Class, new Premium Economy Class and enhanced Economy Class seating with on-demand, seatback in-flight entertainment at every seat. Flights will operate four times a week and are scheduled to seamlessly connect passengers both in North America as well as in India and go on sale this month.
Going on sale today will also be the airline’s new Toronto to Dubai service, scheduled to take flight on November 3rd, 2015. Operating three times weekly, the route will eliminate connections in Frankfurt or Munich with Star Alliance partner Lufthansa or London with UAE’s Etihad and Emirates. As with Delhi, the service is also made possible with the addition of the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner planes.
To compliment their already popular daily service to Sao Paulo, Air Canada’s new thrice-weekly Toronto to Rio de Janeiro flights will operate overnight in both directions, maximizing one’s time at destination and avoid connecting through Sao Paulo as it previously required. Deployed on the route will be Boeing 767-300 Extended Range aircraft featuring Business and Economy Class cabins, with lie-flat beds at the front of the plane and personal in-flight entertainment on every seatback.
As another year comes and goes and with it being one of the more profitable ones in recent memory for the airline, it will be interesting to see what new additions will be planned for 2015 and beyond. Air Canada has already mentioned it will be using Air Canada rouge planes on more domestic routes as well as picking up service to cities such as Portland, Austin and Sarasota in the U.S. As most of the pre-ordered Dreamliners will be arriving in 2015 and 2016, expect more from the carrier in terms of new and interesting destinations.
Hmmm … Non-stop to Johannesburg, anyone?
Whether you're looking for a ride on the Dreamliner or are planning to visit any of these amazing new Air Canada destinations, Flight Centre has got the deal for you. Call one of our Airfare Experts today at 1877 967 5302 or visit a store near you today.
