Air Canada to Expand its International Services

Air Canada has unveiled plans to expand its international services.

The carrier is launching a new non-stop route between Toronto and Seoul, starting a service to Istanbul subject to government approval, adding seven weekly departures to Beijing from Toronto and Vancouver, and upgrading its Calgary-Tokyo Narita route to provide daily service.

"Air Canada is seizing the opportunities of the Pacific Century with the most far-reaching international expansion of its schedule in its 75-year history. Our new routes embrace the world from Istanbul to Seoul and deepen our already extensive Asian service. With our Asia expansion alone, we will be flying 11 daily departures or more than 43,000 seats a week across the Pacific Ocean this summer - a commitment of up to 14 widebody aircraft valued in excess of $2 billion. Our service to Istanbul, the bridge between Europe and Asia, adds an exciting destination to the Air Canada network with easy connections throughout Turkey and points in Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa with our Star Alliance partner Turkish Airlines," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

Highlights of Air Canada's 2013 summer schedule include:

- Non-stop service to Istanbul beginning 4 June 2013. Subject to government approval, Air Canada will begin flying three-times weekly, year-round to the historic city which also serves as a gateway to other destinations in Turkey, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Flights will be operated with a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

- The launch on 2 June 2013 of a new Toronto-Seoul service operating three times a week, creating a fifth Asian destination from Air Canada's Toronto hub. The year-round service, operated with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, will complement existing Vancouver to Seoul service by providing daily departures from Canada to Seoul.

- An addition of three more weekly departures between Toronto and Beijing starting 1 June 2013, bringing the total number of departures from Toronto to Beijing to ten a week. The flights will be operated with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

- Four additional departures each week between Vancouver and Beijing starting 1 June 2013, for a total of 11 weekly departures, including a new late night flight timed to be convenient for business travellers. The flights will be operated with a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

- The upgrading of the Calgary-Tokyo Narita service starting 1 May 2013 to offer daily departures, up from five a week last summer. The flights are operated with a Boeing 767-300ER.

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