Only direct flight from North America to Bangkok launching out of Vancouver airport
The only direct flight between North America and Bangkok, Thailand, will launch out of Vancouver International Airport later this year.
Air Canada announced the new service expansion Monday, saying launch of the service, expected in early December, is dependent on final federal approval.
"We are extremely pleased to be launching our first non-stop service to Southeast Asia this winter, the only one between North America and Thailand," said Mark Galardo, senior vice president, network planning and revenue management at Air Canada, in a news release.
The 17-hour flight is expected to be scheduled for departures on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The flight will depart at 11 p.m. PT and land at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport just before 6 a.m. local time, two days later.
Heading the other direction, flights will leave from Bangkok on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 8:30 a.m. and land in Vancouver at 6:35 a.m.
The service will be offered seasonally, from Dec. 1 to April 14.
"Thailand is a popular leisure destination for Canadians," Galardo said. "For further convenience, our Bangkok flights will connect to our extensive domestic and trans-border network giving customers added seamlessness and choice when travelling."
Other seasonal routes are expected to return or increase later this year.
For those eager to head to Australia or New Zealand, Air Canada's Vancouver to Auckland route will resume on Nov. 10, increasing from three flights per week to five in December. The Vancouver to Brisbane route will also increase to five flights per week in December and the route to Sydney will go up to 10 weekly flights for December and January.
Meanwhile, service to Delhi from Vancouver will return on Oct. 1, though that route includes a technical stop in Dublin for "operational purposes," the airlines says.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.