Kumusta! Air Canada to Launch New, Non-Stop Service between Vancouver and Manila

• Four times weekly, year-round service begins Spring 2025
• Convenient connections acrossNorth Americathrough Air Canada's YVR Pacific hub
• Manilarepresents Air Canada's 12th destination inAsia-Pacific, and the airline's first destination inthe Philippines

MONTREAL,Dec. 5, 2024/PRNewswire/ -- AirCanadatoday announced the strategic expansion of its international network with the addition of non-stop flights between its Pacific hub atVancouverInternational Airport (YVR) andManila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) inthe Philippines*. The announcement was made during the Government ofCanada'sTeam Canada Trade Mission currently inthe Philippines, celebrating 75 years ofCanada-Philippinesdiplomatic relations. This new service toManilais Air Canada's thirdSouth-East Asiadestination launched in the last two years.

"We are thrilled to addManilato our global network with new, year-round, non-stop service fromVancouver, Air Canada's Pacific gateway hub. We continue to pursue our international network strategy of expanding to large, fast-growing markets that are presently unserved directly by Air Canada.The Philippinesis an important market reflecting longstanding family ties between our two countries with growing business connections and tourism opportunities. With an extensive domestic and transborder network inVancouverdesigned to connect seamlessly to our international flights, we are making travel betweenNorth Americaandthe Philippineseven more convenient for leisure and business travellers alike. It is with great excitement that we look forward to welcoming our customers onboard next spring,"saidMark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning, and President, Cargo at Air Canada.

AirCanadais the only Canadian carrier scheduled to servethe Philippines, presently the largest market inAsiawithout direct Air Canada service. The new route will operate four times weekly beginning April 2, 2025, using the airline's flagship Dreamliner aircraft. It will be Air Canada's 12th route in its transpacific network fromVancouver, which includesJapan,South Korea,People's Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR,Thailand,Singapore,AustraliaandNew Zealand, leveragingVancouver'sgeographic position as the closest major North American city toAsia. With this new service, next summer Air Canada will offer over 180 weekly flights betweenCanadaand the Pacific, the most non-stop flights of any carrier in the market. This marks a continuation of Air Canada's expansion into fast-growing markets intoSoutheast Asia, building off recent additions toSingaporeandBangkok, to more than double summer season seat capacity over the Pacific since 2022.

Flights fromCanadatoManilacan be purchased starting today on aircanada.com, through Air Canada's contact centres, and via travel agents. Flights for bookings originating inManilatoCanadawill be available for sale shortly.

Manila Flight Schedule**

Flights will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft featuring three cabins of service for customers to choose from, including Signature Class with lie-flat seats, Premium Economy and Economy Class. Air Canada's complimentary and extensive in-flight entertainment programming features more than 1,400 hours of movies, 1,900 hours of television shows and more than 600 hours of music and podcasts and where available, live tv is available at every seat. The award-winning IFE features collaborations with Apple TV+, Audible, Disney+, Hayu, and others, bringing hours of movies, tv episodes, specialty channels, music albums, other video and audio content and games in multiple languages from boarding to landing.

Eligible customers will have access to the Vancouver Air Canada Signature Suite, offering a la carte dining and premium beverage options within a relaxed airport enclave, as well as the Air Canada International Maple Leaf Lounge. For inbound customers connecting internationally,Vancouveralso has in-transit customs pre-clearance to simplify the transit through YVR. The new route has also been designed to allow customers to conveniently connect to and from more than 50 destinations across North America via Air Canada's hub at YVR.

Stakeholder comments

"This marks an exciting milestone between our two countries, as I lead the biggest Team Canada Trade Mission ever tothe Philippines. As we mark 75 years of our diplomatic relations, these new direct flights betweenVancouverandManilawill help create stronger connections and partnerships, easier travel, economic growth, and generate shared prosperity. I look forward to seeing our Canadian companies continue to develop inthe Philippinesthrough initiatives like these,"said The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development ofCanada.

"B.C. is home to a significant Filipino Canadian community who make incredible contributions to our province and want to stay connected to friends and family overseas. A new direct route betweenVancouverandManilawill make it faster and easier for people to travel between these two cities including for business and trade opportunities. This will strengthen cultural and economic ties betweenCanadaandthe Philippines,"said B.C. PremierDavid Eby.

"Vancouveris thrilled to welcome Air Canada's new flight toManila. As the first Canadian airline to offer this route directly and year-round, it's a meaningful milestone that strengthens the connection betweenCanadaandthe Philippines. For our city's vibrant Filipino community, it brings loved ones closer, makes reunions easier, and opens the door to even more opportunities to connect and celebrate their heritage,"said MayorKen Sim,City of Vancouver.

"We welcome today's announcement by Air Canada that it is continuing to grow its Transpacific network fromVancouverwith the addition of direct service intothe Philippines," saidTamara Vrooman, President and CEO atVancouverInternational Airport (YVR)."This newManilaservice builds on their extensiveAsianetwork from YVR, bringing family, friends and business together and providing travellers with more choice and connections. In addition, the launch of this 14-hour non-stop service will generate$46 millionin economic value to our region."

"Today's announcement by Air Canada of a new international route connectingVancouverandManila, the capital ofCanada'sthird-largest export market within ASEAN, will only deepen our strong people-to-people links and economic connections tothe Philippinesand add momentum toCanada'srenewed engagement with the rapidly growing economies ofSoutheast Asia,"said Jeff Nankivell, President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada."The addition of this year-round, non-stop service will better connect the businesspeople, families, students, official visitors, and tourists who underpin our countries'relationship, with significant economic benefits forCanadaandthe Philippines."

"In 2023, theCanada-Philippinesbilateral merchandise trade totaled$3.4 billion, with B.C. serving as the gateway for the movement of goods. The newVancouver-Philippinesroute by Air Canada will be crucial to continue bolstering trade and investment, promoting tourism, and better connecting our communities – all vital to building a sustainable and thriving economy. TheGreater VancouverBoard of Trade is delighted that Air Canada has chosen to invest in this new direct global connection, which will bring significant benefits to our economy and community,"statedBridgitte Anderson, President and CEO,Greater VancouverBoard of Trade.

AirCanada'sinternational services

Air Canada's international onboard services showcase some of Canada's best culinary talent through Air Canada's panel of celebrated chefs, comprising award-winning chefs David Hawksworth, Vikram Vij and Jérôme Ferrer. Complementing the culinary journey is a selection of top wines chosen by leading Canadian sommelier, Véronique Rivest.

Customers have opportunities to collect and redeem points through Aeroplan Air Canada's loyalty program when travelling with Air Canada. Eligible customers also have access to priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounges, concierge, priority boarding and other exclusive benefits.

International Travel Requirements

Visit Air Canada's Travel Ready Hub for the latest government entry requirements. Customers are responsible for ensuring they meet all government entry requirements, including holding the correct travel documents, visas, any required health certificates, and all other eligibility requirements for any flights they purchase.

*subject to final government approvals

**flight schedules are subject to change

About Air Canada

AirCanadaisCanada'slargest airline, the country's flag carrier and a founding member ofStar Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. AirCanadaprovides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports inCanada,the United Statesand Internationally on six continents. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. AirCanada'sAeroplan program isCanada'spremier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world's largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, it offers more travel choices than any other Canadian tour operator to hundreds of destinations worldwide, with a wide selection of hotels, flights, cruises, day tours, and car rentals. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada's passenger and freighter aircraft. Air Canada's climate ambition includes a long-term aspirational goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For additional information, please seeAirCanada'sTCFD disclosure. AirCanadashares are publicly traded on the TSX inCanadaand the OTCQX in the US.

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SOURCE Air Canada