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Air Canada has flagged a potential return to Melbourne with new A350-1000 aircraft.
The Canadian flag carrier and Virgin Australia codeshare partner’s previous Melbourne service using 787-9 Dreamliners was scuppered by COVID-19, but according to Air Canada’s managing director for international sales, Rocky Lo, the airline has put Melbourne on its “New Frontier” expansion plan.
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“We started our Melbourne service in December 2017 and eventually decided to go all year round, but unfortunately COVID stopped our plan,” he said at a media briefing in Sydney, as reported by Travel Daily.
“Currently from a fleet perspective, the aircraft we have, we just don’t have the range to get to Melbourne, but a few months ago we announced we would acquire A350-1000 aircraft that will come around 2030, and those aircraft will have the range to get to Melbourne.”
While Air Canada has ordered 14 787-10s from Boeing, Lo told media that they will not be seen on Australian non-stop services.
“That aircraft will have more premium seats, both Signature Class and premium economy. But that aircraft won’t be flying to Australia because the range is not enough,” he said.
The airline is seeing increased demand for premium economy and business travel from Australia, according to Kiyo Weiss, Air Canada’s senior director of sales for Asia Pacific.
“We’re seeing customers place more value on the overall travel experience, particularly on long-haul journeys,” she said.
“When you’re travelling between Australia and Canada, comfort becomes a much bigger part of the decision-making process.”
Air Canada has a firm order for eight A350-1000s and purchase rights for eight more, with Mark Galardo, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, and president of cargo at Air Canada, saying they will enable “seamless, non-stop connectivity from Canada to high-growth markets across the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia”.
“Air Canada’s continued global ambitions are solidified by the selection of the Airbus A350-1000, a natural next step in the evolution of our fleet,” he said in January.
“The aircraft brings state-of-the-art capabilities and improved efficiencies to Air Canada, unlocking new long-haul opportunities around the globe.
“With the Maple Leaf adorning the tail, the Airbus A350-1000 will play a central role in defining Air Canada’s next era, connecting our customers, our hubs, and our country to the world.”
No airlines currently offer non-stop services between Melbourne and Canada, though Qantas flies from Sydney and Brisbane to Vancouver, and Air Canada from Brisbane to Vancouver and from Sydney to Vancouver and Toronto.
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