Air Canada announces international expansion for summer 2013 with Asia focus

Air Canada announced (29-Nov-2012) a major expansion of its international services, with plans to launch Toronto-Seoul and Toronto-Istanbul services, add seven weekly departures to Beijing from Toronto and Vancouver, and upgrade Calgary-Tokyo Narita route to daily service - see Route Changes Table for more information. Highlights of Air Canada's 2013 summer schedule include:

• Istanbul: Nonstop service to Istanbul from 04-Jun-2013 subject to government approval. Service will be operated three times weekly with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. It will be the only early evening departure from Toronto to Istanbul;
• Seoul: The carrier will launch Toronto-Seoul service on 02-Jun-2013, operated with three times weekly frequency. This will be the carrier's fifth Asian destination from Toronto hub. The year-round service, operated with 777-300ER aircraft, will complement existing Vancouver to Seoul service by providing daily departures from Canada to Seoul;
• Beijing: An addition of three more weekly departures between Toronto and Beijing starting 01-Jun-2013 will bring the total number of departures from Toronto to Beijing to 10 per week. Services will be operated with a 777-300ER aircraft. Meanwhile, four additional departures each week between Vancouver and Beijing will commence on 01-Jun-2013 for a total of 11 weekly departures, including a new late night flight. Services will be operated with 767-300ER aircraft;
• Tokyo Narita: Plans to upgrade Calgary-Tokyo Narita service from 01-May-2013 to offer daily departures, up from five times weekly service in summer 2012. Service operated with 767-300ER equipment.

Air Canada executive VP and CCO Ben Smith said: "Air Canada is seizing the opportunities of the Pacific Century with the most far-reaching international expansion of its schedule in its 75-year history. Our new routes embrace the world from Istanbul to Seoul and deepen our already extensive Asian service. With our Asia expansion alone, we will be flying 11 daily departures or more than 43,000 seats a week across the Pacific Ocean this summer - a commitment of up to 14 widebody aircraft valued in excess of $2 billion. Our service to Istanbul, the bridge between Europe and Asia, adds an exciting destination to the Air Canada network with easy connections throughout Turkey and points in Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa with our Star Alliance partner Turkish Airlines." [more - original PR]