Star Alliance carriers ANA and Air Canada have announced new flights to Australia, both utilising the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as the aircraft of choice. ANA will commence flights between Tokyo Haneda and Sydney, while the new Air Canada flight will go be between Vancouver and Brisbane.
ANA: Tokyo Haneda – Sydney
The new ANA flights will commence on 11 December 2015 flying overnight in both directions using B787-9 aircraft. It marks the return of ANA in Australian skies since the last time the airline flew to Australia in 1999.
Flight NH789 will depart Tokyo at 10:10pm, arriving in Sydney at 9:35am the next day. The return flight, NH880, will depart 12 hours later at 9:30pm, arriving in the early morning the next day at 5:05am. This flight will compete directly with Qantas’ Sydney – Tokyo Haneda flight which operates on a similar schedule.
Bookings for these new flights are expected to open in August. Travellers heading towards Japan with ANA are also able to add a domestic segment to their international journey from anywhere in Japan for ¥10,800 (approximately $120 AUD) as part of ANA’s Experience Japan Fare promotion.
On board the 787-9, there is capacity for 215 passengers – 146 in economy, 21 in premium economy and 48 in business. Economy seats feature a generous 34” seat pitch with access to AC and USB power. Fans of the Star Wars franchise will have a chance to travel on special liveried 787-9 inspired by R2-D2.
Air Canada: Vancouver – Brisbane
Commencing on 17 June 2016, Air Canada will fly 3x weekly between Vancouver and Brisbane, complementing their existing daily Vancouver – Sydney service. Air Canada hopes to increase this flight to a daily frequency “subject to obtaining the necessary government approvals”.
On Wednesday, Friday and Sunday flight AC35 will depart Vancouver 11:45pm, touching down in Brisbane two days later at 7:15am. The return flight AC36 departs Brisbane on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday at 10:40am, arriving at 7:15am the same day. The timings of these flights will allow easy connections to Air Canada flights to other North American destinations.
The flights will be operated by B787-8 aircraft, featuring 210 seats in economy, 21 in premium economy and 20 in business. On board, all economy seats feature a personal inflight entertainment system with a 9” touchscreen and USB port. AC sockets are also available in economy, but shared between passengers. The seats themselves are 17.3” wide and have a 31” seat pitch and 5” recline.
Bookings for these flights will open on 16 July Canadian time.
Oz Student Traveller 