Air Canada has announced it will begin offering 3X-weekly non-stop flights from YVR to BNE effective 17JUN16. AC will serve the route with 787-8 Dreamliners and says it intends to increase to daily service, pending government approvals.

"Air Canada continues to strategically expand its international network with the addition of our 2^nd Australian destination - Brisbane, capital of Queensland and the 3^rd most populous city in Australia,” said Calin Rovinescu, Air Canada President & CEO.

“The new route increases our presence in the Asia-Pacific market at a time when trade and travel in the region and between North America is growing, with a further boost expected from the Trans-Pacific Partnership now under negotiation,” added Rovinescu, who was participating yesterday in the 2015 Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum in Vancouver.

Rovinescu says the long flight is made possible due to the operational economies of the Dreamliner together with the efforts of the Vancouver Airport Authority, which he says has maintained airport operating costs at levels among the lowest in Canada.

Queensland Government Minister for Tourism and Major Events Kate Jones welcomed the new flights, stating, "The Air Canada service represents the 1^st direct flight between Queensland and Canada, and is expected to inject up to $24 million in visitor expenditure for Queensland's economy per year and attract an extra 12,000 international visitors to Queensland each year.”

Jones says the service is supported under the Queensland Government's Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF) because it will help entice more North American travellers to visit Queensland.

Tickets for Air Canada's new BNE flights will be available for purchase starting 16JUL15. Flight AC35 will depart YVR on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 23:45, arriving BNE at 07:15 (+2 days). Return flight AC36 will depart BNE on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 10:40, arriving YVR at 07:15 the same day.