Qantas has today announced it will return to Vancouver with an extended seasonal schedule, providing customers with new travel options over the North American summer and winter holiday seasons.*

Qantas Executive Manager International Sales, Stephen Thompson, said the decision to return to Vancouver came at the end of a successful first season of flying during the December-January travel period.

“Our direct Vancouver services proved really popular so we’re pleased to expand them this year, offering customers more flights on more days over winter and summer, and delivering another boost for inbound tourism for Australia,” said Mr Thompson.

“This is great news for customers planning their next international holiday, this time catering not only for Australian ski enthusiasts, but also for those wanting to explore Canada in summer.”

“Vancouver has something to offer every type of traveller in the warmer months. It’s both a cosmopolitan harbour city and the gateway to the Canadian Rockies. Our customers can also enjoy seamless connections to six destinations across Canada with our codeshare partner WestJet.

“Our focus with this new schedule is to give customers more choice. We’ve increased services from two to three per week, and will ensure customers can maximise their holiday time with night flights in both directions”.

Made possible by Qantas’ continued focus on improving aircraft utilisation, Mr Thompson said the services also deliver on the airline’s strategy of targeting seasonal peaks to provide customers with more choice at the time of year they want to travel.

“We’re operating our seasonal Perth-Auckland service for the second year, having added more than 100 flights across the international network over the past six months and are looking at more opportunities to cater for seasonal demand across the network,” Mr Thompson added.

Vancouver Airport Authority President and CEO, Craig Richmond said they were thrilled to welcome Qantas back to Vancouver for summer and winter services.

“Their return provides Canadian and Australian travellers with great options for vacation destinations and brings growth in tourism and economic benefits to the province,” said Mr Richmond.

Qantas will operate 33 return services between Sydney and Vancouver – 13 return services in June/July, and 20 return services from mid-December to late January 2016, operated by a three-cabin, 364-seat refurbished B747 aircraft.

Fares for the Vancouver services will be available for sale from today, through qantas.com and Travel Agents. Special launch fares start from $1990, available for sale from 4 – 9 February 2015.

Honolulu schedule improvements

Qantas is also making improvements to its Honolulu services with schedule changes to improve arrival and departure times in Honolulu. The new times will open up more onward connections to other Hawaiian Islands, and will also facilitate a fifth weekly service to operate on Mondays during peak seasons, from 7 September – 19 October 2015 and 30 November 2015 – 25 January 2016.

These changes will appear in selling systems progressively from today and are effective for all flights from 1 April 2015.

Times displayed in schedule are AEST.

^Fifth weekly QF3/4 Sydney-Honolulu service to operate Mondays during peak seasons 7 September – 19 October 2015 and 30 November 2015 – 25 January 2016.

**Current departure and arrival times will vary slightly up until when new schedule takes effects on 1 April 2015.

*Subject to regulatory approval.