Air Canada - Sydney - Vancouver Direct Flights

Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights

MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CN/
Air Canada today announced that it will launch the first ever non-stop
flights between Australia and Canada with the introduction of double
daily flights December 16, 2004 in time for the peak travel season in
the southern hemisphere. Flights will be operated using 282-seat
Airbus A340-300 aircraft enabling Air Canada to offer non-stop service
northbound from Sydney to Vancouver.

Southbound flights, requiring a brief stopover in Honolulu for
refueling, will allow customers to stay on board thus eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.

With a flight time of 14 hours and 40 minutes, Air Canada's new daily
A340 non-stop service will reduce northbound flying time by two hours
and 15 minutes compared to the carrier's second daily one stop service
and will be almost five hours faster than other carriers' alternate
routings.

"With the introduction of A340 service to Australia, we are offering
customers superior choice and the convenience of non-stop flights for
the first time," said Ben Smith, Vice President, Planning. "

The addition of direct service means significant added convenience for
citizens of Australia and other travellers impacted by U.S. government
visa requirements when transiting via the United States. Our new
non-stop service also means greatly improved travel times with only
one connection to major cities in eastern Canada including Toronto,
Montreal and Ottawa."

Air Canada will maintain its second daily flight operated via Honolulu
with a 212-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. These flights allow
passengers to stop over in Hawaii between Canada and Australia and
also provide the only daily non-stop flights for local customers
traveling between Hawaii and Australia. With the introduction of
first-ever double daily service Air Canada is increasing the number of
seats on the route by 33 per cent over last year.

Flight AC033, an Airbus A340-300, departs Vancouver at 18:10, arrives
in Honolulu at 22:25 for refueling and continues on to Sydney for
arrival at 07:00, two days later.

Flight AC034 departs Sydney at 11:15 and arrives in Vancouver at 06:55
the same day. AC045, a Boeing 767-300, departs Vancouver at 16:50,
arrives in Honolulu at 21:00, departs Honolulu at 22:30 and arrives in
Sydney at 06:05, two days later.

AC046 departs Sydney at 08:30, arrives at Honolulu at 22:25, departs
Honolulu at 22:55, and arrives in Vancouver at 06:25 the same day.


Source: AIR CANADA; AIR CANADA - ROUTE & NETWORK - FLEET

in article ,
at
wrote on 10/26/04 8:11 PM:

Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights

If they are running Exec. First on that run, it may well be a good trip
(have done that on a couple long hauls). Otherwise, AC would probably be
one of my last choices for the kangaroo run as they are horrifically bad for
lengthy legs - strange for such a big country as this.

Have yet to fly with the "new, improved balance sheet,
more-surly-than-normal" post-bankruptcy AC. Comments?

in article ,
at
wrote on 10/26/04 8:11 PM:

Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights

If they are running Exec. First on that run, it may well be a good trip
(have done that on a couple long hauls). Otherwise, AC would probably be
one of my last choices for the kangaroo run as they are horrifically bad for
lengthy legs - strange for such a big country as this.

Have yet to fly with the "new, improved balance sheet,
more-surly-than-normal" post-bankruptcy AC. Comments?

"Raffi Balmanoukian" a
wrote in message
news:BDA475F2.27D93%walkabout@TAKEOUTTHETRASHTOREP LY.ns.sympatico.ca...
in article ,
at

wrote on 10/26/04 8:11 PM:

Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights

If they are running Exec. First on that run, it may well be a good trip
(have done that on a couple long hauls). Otherwise, AC would probably be
one of my last choices for the kangaroo run as they are horrifically bad
for
lengthy legs - strange for such a big country as this.

Have yet to fly with the "new, improved balance sheet,
more-surly-than-normal" post-bankruptcy AC. Comments?


Flew AC from Paris to Toronto in July. Due to the collapse of part of
terminal 2 there we had to use terminal 1. Chaotic!!
Mind you it meant that we were almost last in the queue to board and seat
allocations were done at the gate. We were upgraded to Exec First Class!
Have previousy flown First Class with (the now extint) Ansett and AC was a
dissapointment. Everything was Ok and better than normal cattle class and
the seat was larger and there was more leg room, but, (a) the seats were not
comfortable, (b) the comfort pack was worse than the one in cattle for SIA,
(c) the food was not exeptional, and there was not even a personal TV
screen. The service was good though and considering we expected to be in
economy I guess I am being a little churlish in criticising.
I had heard about the surly cabin crew on AC from the kids but must say that
I did not come accross this at all. Even when we flew Toronto to Edmonton
late September the service anything but surly!
If the A340-300s have better seating than the A320 we had from Paris to
Tornto then I guess Vancouver to Sydney would be bearable considering the
alternative.
We flew Vancouver to Singapore via Seoul and then on to Perth earlier this
month with SIA and I can assure you that was no joke!
Got near your place too Raffi. Spent two weeks travelling by car from
Hamilton (On) to Quebec and then to New Brunswick and PEI. Sorry Nova Scotia
wouldn't fit into the time frame. Next time perhaps. We can have a wine
together.
Gerrit - Perth

"Raffi Balmanoukian" a
wrote in message
news:BDA475F2.27D93%walkabout@TAKEOUTTHETRASHTOREP LY.ns.sympatico.ca...
in article ,
at

wrote on 10/26/04 8:11 PM:

Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights

If they are running Exec. First on that run, it may well be a good trip
(have done that on a couple long hauls). Otherwise, AC would probably be
one of my last choices for the kangaroo run as they are horrifically bad
for
lengthy legs - strange for such a big country as this.

Have yet to fly with the "new, improved balance sheet,
more-surly-than-normal" post-bankruptcy AC. Comments?


Flew AC from Paris to Toronto in July. Due to the collapse of part of
terminal 2 there we had to use terminal 1. Chaotic!!
Mind you it meant that we were almost last in the queue to board and seat
allocations were done at the gate. We were upgraded to Exec First Class!
Have previousy flown First Class with (the now extint) Ansett and AC was a
dissapointment. Everything was Ok and better than normal cattle class and
the seat was larger and there was more leg room, but, (a) the seats were not
comfortable, (b) the comfort pack was worse than the one in cattle for SIA,
(c) the food was not exeptional, and there was not even a personal TV
screen. The service was good though and considering we expected to be in
economy I guess I am being a little churlish in criticising.
I had heard about the surly cabin crew on AC from the kids but must say that
I did not come accross this at all. Even when we flew Toronto to Edmonton
late September the service anything but surly!
If the A340-300s have better seating than the A320 we had from Paris to
Tornto then I guess Vancouver to Sydney would be bearable considering the
alternative.
We flew Vancouver to Singapore via Seoul and then on to Perth earlier this
month with SIA and I can assure you that was no joke!
Got near your place too Raffi. Spent two weeks travelling by car from
Hamilton (On) to Quebec and then to New Brunswick and PEI. Sorry Nova Scotia
wouldn't fit into the time frame. Next time perhaps. We can have a wine
together.
Gerrit - Perth

wrote:

Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights

MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CN/
Air Canada today announced ...




Southbound flights, requiring a brief stopover in Honolulu for
refueling, will allow customers to stay on board thus eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.


Hmmmm. What does this mean?

eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.

For _some_ travelers? But not all?

If everybody stays on board, does that mean that the customs and visa
inspectors will come on the plane to check people?

cheers,

Henry

wrote:

Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights

MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CN/
Air Canada today announced ...




Southbound flights, requiring a brief stopover in Honolulu for
refueling, will allow customers to stay on board thus eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.


Hmmmm. What does this mean?

eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.

For _some_ travelers? But not all?

If everybody stays on board, does that mean that the customs and visa
inspectors will come on the plane to check people?

cheers,

Henry

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 08:00:56 +0300, (Henry) wrote:

wrote:

Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights

MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CN/
Air Canada today announced ...

Southbound flights, requiring a brief stopover in Honolulu for
refueling, will allow customers to stay on board thus eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.

Hmmmm. What does this mean?

eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.

For _some_ travelers? But not all?

If everybody stays on board, does that mean that the customs and visa
inspectors will come on the plane to check people?

cheers,

Henry
\

Suggest you contact AC and ask!

Cath

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 08:00:56 +0300, (Henry) wrote:

wrote:

Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights

MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CN/
Air Canada today announced ...

Southbound flights, requiring a brief stopover in Honolulu for
refueling, will allow customers to stay on board thus eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.

Hmmmm. What does this mean?

eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.

For _some_ travelers? But not all?

If everybody stays on board, does that mean that the customs and visa
inspectors will come on the plane to check people?

cheers,

Henry
\

Suggest you contact AC and ask!

Cath

"Henry" wrote in message
...
wrote:

Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights

MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CN/
Air Canada today announced ...




Southbound flights, requiring a brief stopover in Honolulu for
refueling, will allow customers to stay on board thus eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.


Hmmmm. What does this mean?

eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.

For _some_ travelers? But not all?


US citizens (and possibly Canadian citizens, for all I know), don't need
transit visas, so the refueling stop doesn't eliminate the need for transit
visas for these people (as they never needed them anyway).

This is how it used to be for Qantas refueiling in Bahrain on Oz-England -
you would spend an hour in your seats staring out the window, waiting,
waiting, waiting ...