Air Canada is marking the inauguration of its newest international flights linking Vancouver and Manila, solidifying the airline’s presence in Southeast Asia and supporting Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy. The launch of service to Manila also positions Air Canada as the North American airline serving the most destinations non-stop in Southeast Asia.
Celebrations at the airline’s Vancouver/YVR hub were held on April 1 and again prior to the departure of AC017 at 01:55 on April 2. The flight was due to arrive in Manila at 06:20 local time on April 3.
Air Canada’s Manila flights represent the airline’s 12th route in its transpacific network from Vancouver, which includes destinations in Japan, South Korea, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, SAE, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, leveraging Vancouver’s geographic position as the closest major North American city to Asia. For summer 2025, Air Canada will offer over 180 weekly flights between Canada and 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 into Southeast Asia, building off recent additions to Singapore and Bangkok, to more than double summer season seat capacity over the Pacific since 2022.
“We are proud to be the only Canadian carrier flying to the Philippines, building on the longstanding ties between our countries to make visiting family and friends, conducting business, or heading on vacation more convenient than ever,” said said Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning, & President, Cargo. “With more than one million Filipinos living in Canada representing an important market, direct air services are a catalyst to facilitating tourism, trade and connectivity, and represent the fastest way of travelling to Manila.
“Whether you start or end your journey at our Vancouver Pacific hub, or one of our conveniently connected network destinations, we are thrilled to welcome you onboard our newest Asia-Pacific flight.”
A NEW WAY TO PROMOTE TRAVEL IN CANADA: OPEN JAW AND LANDSBY LAUNCH PARTNERSHIP
Recognizing the surging enthusiasm for authentic domestic travel, two leading Canadian travel innovators, OpenJaw.com and Landsby, today announced a strategic partnership aimed at equipping travel advisors with the knowledge and resources necessary to champion and sell exceptional Canadian experiences, driving significant growth within the national tourism sector.
This powerful alliance combines OpenJaw.com’s leading distribution platform and extensive network of travel advisors with Landsby’s deep expertise in curating exceptional and immersive Canadian adventures. Together, the companies will focus on:
- Equipping Advisors for Success: Providing advisors with enhanced training content showcasing diverse Canadian destinations and seamless exposure to Landsby’s curated portfolio of distinctive travel packages, including Indigenous-led cultural immersions and regenerative tourism experiences.
- Unlocking Canada’s Wonders: This partnership will amplify the visibility of Canada’s diverse and captivating travel opportunities, inspiring both domestic and international travellers to explore its breathtaking landscapes and uncover its hidden gems,
- Driving Economic Impact: By increasing bookings and revenue for a wide spectrum of Canadian tourism businesses – from independent lodges and local artisans to unique experience providers – this collaboration will support the resilience and sustainability of communities across Canada.
Aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in British Columbia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
“At OpenJaw.com, we recognize a pivotal moment for Canadian tourism, and our alliance with Landsby is a direct response to the growing desire for authentic local exploration,” says Nina Slawek, President of OpenJaw.com. “By integrating Landsby’s remarkable Canadian offerings and content into our platform and providing advisors with dedicated educational resources and streamlined booking capabilities, we are confident they will be empowered to become true Canadian travel experts and significantly grow their business in this exciting sector, ultimately enriching the entire Canadian travel ecosystem.”
Jason Sarracini, Founder & CEO of Landsby, comments, “This partnership with OpenJaw.com marks a significant step forward in strengthening Canadian tourism. By uniting our profound understanding of Canada’s unique travel experiences with OpenJaw.com’s robust network of travel professionals, we are creating a powerful synergy.
“Our shared commitment is to provide advisors with the in-depth knowledge and easy access they need to confidently promote the diverse and compelling travel opportunities that Canada offers, ensuring that more travellers discover the incredible destinations and vibrant communities within our nation.”
As a proud member of the Open Jaw team and someone who loves Canadian travel, and as someone who’s known and worked with Jason Sarracini for quite some time, I’m excited about this. Given Canadians interest in exploring their own backyards this year, the timing could not be better.
