Today, Air Canada announced it will launch a range of new, non-stop services to the US in May 2017, including new twice-daily service from YVR to Denver and a conversion of its Vancouver – Phoenix service to year-round. These services will further strengthen Air Canada’s transborder growth while opening up exciting new travel options for YVR’s passengers.
“YVR has had an amazing year of record growth and thanks to Air Canada it looks like 2017 is shaping up to be just as strong,” said Craig Richmond, President & CEO of Vancouver Airport Authority / L'Administration de l’aéroport de Vancouver. “Air Canada’s continued focus on growing its international hub out of YVR is a key part of our mission, which is to connect BC proudly to the world.”
Air Canada will increase its Phoenix service to year-round starting on May 1 and will launch new, year-round service between YVR and Denver on May 18. Both services will be operated by Air Canada Express, with flights timed to conveniently connect with Air Canada’s domestic and international schedule. These new services will also provide economic and social benefits for the region. They will create 359 jobs at YVR and throughout British Columbia and will add an additional $20.7 million in Gross Domestic Product, $7.2 million in taxes and $13 million in wages.
YVR is on track to welcome a record 22 million passengers in 2016 and this is thanks in part to Air Canada’s ambitious growth. Since 2015, Air Canada has introduced eight new services to YVR: Osaka, Cancun, San Jose, San Diego, Chicago, Dublin, Brisbane and Delhi. This growth continues in 2017 with six new destinations scheduled to launch, including Taipei, Nagoya, Frankfurt, London Gatwick, Dallas and Denver.
Services such as this are made possible through YVR’s new five-year airline rates and charges program, ConnectYVR, which provides a highly competitive rate structure and includes rates lower than any other major airport in Canada and competing US airports.