Air Canada to launch Vancouver to Singapore

Air Canada is preparing to stretch its wings, with a new route between  Vancouver International Airport and Singapore Changi International Airport.

The new route will operate four times weekly beginning 3rd April 2024. The planned operation is as follows:

Flights will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft featuring three cabins of service, including Signature Class with lie-flat seats, Premium Economy and Economy Class.

The schedule has been built to conveniently connect to and from destinations across North America via Air Canada’s hub in Vancouver and at Singapore to and from destinations across Southeast Asia, South India & Western Australia with Star Alliance and codeshare partner Singapore Airlines.

In Quotes

Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada on the route launch said:

“Air Canada continues to adapt its international network strategy in response to evolving global trends and is broadening its presence in the Indo-Pacific region to capitalize on growing business links and Canada’s changing demographics.

We are committed to growing YVR as a premier trans-Pacific hub, and Singapore is a top global financial centre, a multicultural destination that offers an abundance of tourism and food experiences, as well as an important gateway to beyond destinations in Southeast Asia, Southern India and Western Australia. Our newest flight will be equally appreciated by international business travellers, as well as those seeking an exciting holiday destination, or simply visiting friends and family. Customers can now begin planning their next trip to Singapore. We look forward to welcoming you onboard next spring,” 

Lim Ching Kiat, Executive Vice President for Air Hub & Cargo Development at Changi Airport Group added

“We are thrilled to welcome Air Canada as it makes its much-anticipated return to Singapore Changi Airport after more than three decades. The link to Canada is strategically significant for Changi as point-to-point travel between the two countries has shown strong recovery, with passenger traffic surpassing 80% of pre-Covid-19 levels in the first quarter of 2023. The resumption of the Vancouver–Singapore service strengthens the connectivity between Canada and Asia, and will facilitate growth in both business and leisure travel. From Changi Airport, travellers can easily connect via more than 1,800 weekly services to over 55 cities in the region such as those in Southeast Asia, India and Australia. We are excited about the renewed partnership with Air Canada and look forward to providing travellers from Singapore and Southeast Asia the convenience of non-stop travel to Vancouver and further, to popular North American destinations like Toronto, Chicago, and Washington,”

A return to Changi

Like all operators, airlines are looking at their route maps and are trying to work out what is sustainable to operate again – bearing in mind airlines were relentless in cutting fleets and routes faster than you could say “Quarantine”.

Even if the Vancouver – Singapore route has had more than a little bit of an extended absence… if a little bit of an absence is over 30 years.

Whilst the airline has focused on Japan – and recently Bangkok, it seems Air Canada is looking to new markets for passengers, especially since Singapore Airlines will exit the Vancouver market this year.

There certainly seems to be an opportunity out there -it will be interesting to see how Air Canada handles it.