Qantas Extends Vancouver Operation in 2015

Australian carrier Qantas will return to the Canadian market of Vancouver with an extended flight offering during the summer 2015 seasonal schedule. This expanded service will take advantage of the increased travel demand during the summer and winter months between Vancouver and Sydney, Australia.

After the success of its first six direct return flights in January 2015 between Sydney and Vancouver, Qantas has made the decision to resume service for the busy summer and winter holidays. The direct service proved to be popular with both Australian and Canadian passengers and this upcoming schedule will offer greater flexibility with a switch from two to three flights per week.

"We are thrilled to welcome Qantas back to Vancouver International Airport for summer and winter service," said Craig Richmond, president and chief executive officer, Vancouver Airport Authority. "Their return provides Canadian and Australian travellers with great options for vacation destinations and brings growth in tourism and economic benefits to the province."

Adding this seasonal service will bring approximately 2,000 new visitors who would not have otherwise come to Vancouver. Collectively these new visitors will spend over $2.5 million dollars in the province which will in turn support 22 new jobs in British Columbia, according to data from the airport authority.

Qantas will operate 33 return services between Sydney and Vancouver - 13 return services in June/July, and 20 return services from mid-December to late January 2016, operated by a three-class, 364-seat Boeing 747-400. The flights will operate three times weekly between June 20, 2015 and July 18, 2015 and from December 12, 2015 to January 25, 2016.

“Our direct Vancouver services proved really popular so we’re pleased to expand them this year, offering customers more flights on more days over winter and summer, and delivering another boost for inbound tourism for Australia,” said Stephen Thompson, executive manager international sales, Qantas.

Made possible by Qantas’ continued focus on improving aircraft utilisation, Mr Thompson said the services also deliver on the airline’s strategy of targeting seasonal peaks to provide customers with more choice at the time of year they want to travel.

“We’re operating our seasonal Perth-Auckland service for the second year, having added more than 100 flights across the international network over the past six months and are looking at more opportunities to cater for seasonal demand across the network,” he added.

Richard Maslen

Richard Maslen has travelled across the globe to report on developments in the aviation sector as airlines and airports have continued to evolve and…