Air Canada Uses Dreamliner for new Tokyo Haneda Link

Air Canada has confirmed that it will use its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners to introduce a new non-stop service between Toronto and Tokyo from summer 2014. The announcement comes just a week after the airline revealed the interior design of the jet and that it will also be scheduled on its Toronto – Tel Aviv route also from July 1, 2014.

The airline will utilise the next generation airliner to launch daily flights from its Lester B Pearson International Airport hub and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from July 1, 2014, complementing its existing services to Tokyo Narita International Airport from Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

The new year-round service will be both the only non-stop flight between Canada and Tokyo-Haneda, located less than 30 minutes from downtown Tokyo, and the first daytime flight to Tokyo-Haneda from North America. This is the first scheduled deployment of Air Canada's Dreamliner in the Asian market and will follow the type’s debut on routes to Europe and the Middle East.

"Air Canada is very pleased to offer customers, especially business travelers to Japan, the option of flying to Tokyo-Haneda airport aboard our new 787 Dreamliner,” saidBen Smith, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Air Canada. “Located less than 30 minutes by monorail from Tokyo's central business district, Tokyo-Haneda is Japan's busiest airport and is popular with travellers going into the city. Moreover, with North America's only daytime flight to Tokyo-Haneda, the schedule is convenient for those who want to maximize productivity during their trip.”

The new route will further strengthen Air Canada’s Toronto global hub, where efficient connection processes and shorter elapsed flying times could make it an ideal option for travellers flying to and from destinations across the US north-east. It will also boost business connectivity into Japan and the wider Asian market through a wealth of onward domestic and international connections through All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Air Canada’s other Star Alliance partners via the Japenese capital.

Air Canada is due to take delivery of 37 787s from spring 2014. Each of the aircraft will be configured in three-class arrangement seating 251 passengers – 20 Business Class, 21 Premium Class and 210 Economy seats. The introduction of the 787-8s and larger 787-9 variants featuring our new onboard product is a key component of Air Canada's international expansion plans.

"The fuel efficient Boeing 787 aircraft will open up opportunities for Air Canada to serve new international destinations, and convert existing routes to Dreamliner service, as we continue to renew our fleet and develop Toronto Pearson into a preferred North American gateway and truly global airline hub," said Smith.

As the first three 787 aircraft are gradually introduced into the Air Canada fleet in the spring of 2014, the airline will offer a preview of its new Dreamliner service on select domestic Canada and transatlantic flights on a temporary basis.

There are no current details on the proposed domestic flights although Air Canada’s latest schedule suggests that the aircraft could enter international service from late March 2014 on the carrier’s Toronto – London Heathrow route, before being introduced on the Toronto – Zurich route from May 1, 2014.