Air Canada Reinstates Daily Service to Asian Destinations

In response to increased demand for travel to and from Asia, Air Canada has reinstated flights on several of its Asian routes on which capacity had been reduced due to the SARS-related drop in air travel demand. Air Canada said that to meet travel demand over the peak summer months, and offer business travellers the convenience of daily scheduled service it has reinstated daily services, non-stop from Vancouver, and adjusted capacity as follows:

Shanghai: Daily flights resumed July 14 from reduced schedule since May; operated with Boeing 767 aircraft.

Beijing: Daily flights to resume July 30 since suspension June 6; operated with Boeing 767 aircraft.

Hong Kong: Daily flights resumed June 23 following reduced schedule since May; operated with Airbus A340 aircraft.

Seoul: Daily service maintained with aircraft upgauged to Airbus A340 from Boeing 767 effective June 30 with additional second daily flights on selected days during the months of July and August.

Tokyo (Narita): Aircraft upgauged to Boeing 747 from Airbus A340 effective June 18; daily service maintained, as has been daily service to Osaka that will be operated with larger Airbus A340 aircraft effective September 1, an upgauge from Boeing 767 aircraft operating since March.

"With the impact of SARS effectively behind us, we're seeing a return in demand for travel to and from Asia as a result of both pent up demand from business travellers as well as increased leisure traffic," said Montie Brewer, Executive Vice President, Commercial. "As we adjust our schedule in light of encouraging market indicators, we will continue to offer customers the choice and convenience of daily service to Asia."

With the reinstatement of daily service to these destinations, Air Canada offers 42 weekly non-stop flights to six destinations in Asia. On October 26, 2003, Air Canada will introduce daily non-stop service to Delhi from Toronto.

The new route, operated with Airbus A340 aircraft, will offer the only non- stop service between North America and India featuring convenient same-day connections for flights to other major cities in India and across North America.