【明报专讯】加拿大航空公司昨天正式宣布，将在今年夏季每天增开1班温哥华至北京的直飞航班，并将多伦多至上海的直飞航班从原先的每周3班增加至每天1班，从而进一步拓展中国大陆市场，巩固其在加中航线的领导地位。
加航在昨天发表的新闻通告中指出，新增的温哥华至北京的直飞航班，将在今年7月1日至9月30日期间开展营运，该航班所采用的飞机为拥有211个座位的波音767-300。
至于多伦多至上海的直飞航线则将从今年4月6日起恢复正常营运，每周共有3个航班。而从今年6月30日起，该直飞航线将在夏季高峰期增开航班，从原先的每周3班增至每天1班。
多伦多直航上海每天1班
对此，天宝旅游总经理叶玉桐表示，加航在今夏增开温哥华至北京的直飞航班以及多伦多至上海的直飞航班，此举有助于提高其在加中航线的竞争力。
叶玉桐说：“这既显示了加航对加中航线相当重视，亦说明市场的需求十分殷切。”
她又指出，加航在去年6月17日新辟的多伦多至上海的直飞航线颇受欢迎，为加航带来了丰厚的经济收益，市场前景被继续看好，因为即使在目前的旅游淡季，该航线的载客量仍非常多。
Media Centre News Releases
Attention Business/Financial Editors:
Air Canada expands service to China with second daily Vancouver-Beijing flight, more Toronto-Shanghai non-stops
MONTREAL, Feb. 1 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada announced today that it is smoothing the route to Asia this summer by doubling its daily Vancouver-Beijing service and increasing the frequencies of its Toronto-Shanghai non-stop flights.
“Air Canada is securing its position as the leading North American carrier to China this summer by adding a second daily Vancouver-Beijing flight and improving its Toronto-Shanghai schedule. These added flights represent nearly a 50 per cent capacity increase for the growing Chinese market, which continues to thrive due to strength in both leisure and business travel,” said Daniel Shurz, Vice President, Network Planning, at Air Canada. “With these enhancements Air Canada strengthens its position as the carrier with the most frequencies between Vancouver and China and as the only airline with non-stop service to China from eastern Canada.”
The added Vancouver-Beijing daily flight will operate between July 1 and September 30, using a 211-seat Boeing 767-300 aircraft. The Toronto-Shanghai service will begin April 6 with service three days a week. Effective June 30, it will increase to daily service starting for the summer peak and continue as a three-day-a-week service for the 2007-2008 winter schedule.
In total, Air Canada will operate five daily non-stops between Canada and China this summer, the most of any airline. Customers will have the opportunity to enjoy Air Canada’s premium Executive First Service, including lie-flat seats on new Boeing 777 aircraft on select flights (between Toronto and Beijing), take advantage of Aeroplan membership, and benefit from convenient connections made possible by Air Canada’s extensive North American and international network.
Montreal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 150 destinations on five continents. Canada’s flag carrier is the 14th largest commercial airline in the world and serves 30 million customers annually with a fleet consisting of 335 aircraft. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, providing the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network.
