Air Canada to add Montreal to Shanghai route

Air Canada sneaked out a new route towards the end of last week, with the announcement of a new route between Montreal and Shanghai.

Air Canada Boeing 787-8, Image – Air Canada.

The new route will commence on 17th February 2017, making this the first direct service between Montreal and China.

The timetables are variable for the first few months of the operation of the route:

From February 16, 2017 to March 12, 2017

AC017 DEPART YUL 13:30 ARRIVE PVG 16:40+1
AC018 DEPART PVG 18:15 ARRIVE YUL 18:40

From March 12, 2017 to March 25, 2017

AC017 DEPART YUL 14:30 ARRIVE PVG 16:40+1
AC018 DEPART PVG 18:15 ARRIVE YUL 19:40

From March 12, 2017 to March 25, 2017

AC017 DEPART YUL 13:15 ARRIVE PVG 15:30+1
AC018 DEPART PVG 17:05 ARRIVE YUL 18:40

Commences 17th February. Changes as listed.
Booked Equipment: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
Data: Air Canada

The timings in Canada should be good for those coming from the Eastern seaboard, with reasonable connections to/from Boston, Halifax, Ottawa, Quebec City and New York. In China, connectivity will be provided by Air China, Shenzhen Airlines and Juneyao Airlines – which should provide good connectivity onwards to Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenzhen and beyond.

Air Canada configure their Boeing 787-8s in a three-class configuration, laid out as:

• 20 Business Class Bed-seat in a 1-2-1 formation
•  21 Premium Economy Seats in a 2-3-2 formation
• 210 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 formation

Ticketing opens for these flights commences on the 28th September 2016.  Expect these also to turn up the Star Alliance frequent flyer redemption programmes sooner rather than later.

The Montreal – Shanghai route will mark the introduction of a 787 based service from Montreal.

Air Canada operates to 13 long haul services from Montreal, connecting it to  Europe, North Africa and now, China.

For those who count the dots and lines connecting city to city, it’s another example of the Boeing 787 opening up routes that never before existed.

And the name of the game is connectivity and profits. Hopefully this route will add some good numbers to Air Canada’s balance sheet and provide the connectivity customers want.

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