Star Alliance member Air Canada will launch year-round Melbourne-Vancouver flights in June 2018 using its Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
The airline had already planned seasonal Melbourne-Vancouver flights between December 4 2017 and February 4 2018, with its mid-year return bringing three flights per week in each direction.
Business class passengers aboard the Dreamliner will find 30 seats at the pointy end, nicknamed ‘executive pods’ and transforming into 80-inch (203cm) fully-flat beds at the touch of a button…
… with the cabin arranged in the increasingly popular 1-2-1 layout to provide direct aisle access from every seat:
Behind that is a cosy, three-row premium economy zone, with 21 seats adopting a 2-3-2 layout…
… each being 19.5 inches (49.5cm) wide, reclining seven inches (17.8cm), with an 11-inch (28cm) HD video screen in front and a total seat pitch of 38 inches (96.5cm).
Melbourne is the third Australian destination for Air Canada, which runs daily flights from Vancouver to both Sydney and Brisbane: the latter also served by Boeing 787 aircraft.
From June 1 2018, Air Canada flight AC37 departs Vancouver at 10:45pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, before touching down in Melbourne at 7:55am two calendar days later.
Out of the Coffee Capital, AC38 takes flight from June 3 – pushing back at 9:40am on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, to reach Vancouver at 7:35am local time on the same calendar day.
Air Canada’s flights from Melbourne are also timed to allow same-day domestic connections from Adelaide, Hobart and Perth on codeshare partner Virgin Australia: although the ability to earn and redeem Velocity points on Air Canada flights (with AC flight numbers) is still a work in progress.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
16 May 2011
Total posts 114
2 years on exactly (June 2018) from launching BNE, they are launching MEL, good on them!
10 Sep 2012
Total posts 149
And nice to see MEL moving ahead too. One stop to almost anywhere in Canada? Sweet.
13 May 2016
Total posts 31
Excellent news! Hopefully the FF tie up with VA is all sorted in time!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Feb 2016
Total posts 25
Great news, the 787 P.E seat was comfortable and and service was better than I had expected.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 593
shame its only 38 pitch
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 622
@elchriss0:
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 593
That was so disappointing when they announced 8 abreast...in their A380s it's just right but A350 is not good. I recently booked a flight with JAL on their new MEL-NRT 788 route and they offer 2-3-2 with 42inch pitch...probably the most space you can hope for in any W seat, plus they give lounge access.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 May 2014
Total posts 14
I jumped on board the direct Melbourne Vancouver flight as soon as they were released and ditched my loyalty with Qantas as a Direct service with AC from Melbourne IMHO far outweighs a Stop Over in LAX with Qantas.
29 Sep 2014
Total posts 3
Will air Canada upgrade Sydney- Vancouver to a 787?
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 622
@Jayden:
10 Sep 2012
Total posts 149
Maybe a freight capacity advantage with the 777?
Air Canada - Aeroplan
28 Feb 2015
Total posts 82
"Will Air Canada upgrade Sydney-Vancouver to a 787?"
The drawback of this - as nice as the 787 is - is that the number of J seats would drop from 40 to 30. That would be a disaster for anyone trying to get an upgrade on this route - it's hard enough now (especially if originating in/ continuing to Toronto on AC34, as you have to find an upgrade seat over the entire journey, not sector by sector, at least before the gate).
10 Sep 2012
Total posts 149
I guess if they're selling enough biz seats on the 777 they won't want to reduce the number for sale.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Nov 2015
Total posts 38
Fascinating stuff. How can these guys go non-stop to Vancouver ex SYD/MEL yet, next week I cant get a QF direct to JFK ?
AA
14 Aug 2013
Total posts 28
MEL-YVR is a "mere" 8192 miles, which is less than current QF max DFW-SYD at 8578. MEL-JFK is still out of reach at 10,375.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Nov 2015
Total posts 38
Tks. I always learn something interesting on this site.
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 622
@Austin:
No QF for MEL-YVR nor MEL/SYD-JFK also because:
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Nov 2015
Total posts 38
Thank you FLX1 for such an informative post.
18 Aug 2017
Total posts 5
What a year for MEL. This service will increase to daily over time
29 Sep 2014
Total posts 3
Does anyone have experience travelling Air Canada from Sydney- Vancouver (Economy)?
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