Air Canada has continued to expand its trans-Pacific connections from Vancouver, with the launch of a new route to Asia Pacific.

The airline has already announced plans to launch new routes from Vancouver to Taipei and Nagoya this summer, and later in the year it will commence a brand new service to Melbourne.

Initially operating as a seasonal service from 1 December 2017 to 4 February 2018, the Vancouver-Melbourne route will run four times a week. Air Canada will serve the route using its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

“Vancouver-Melbourne is our third route to Australia, in addition to year-round service to Sydney and Brisbane,” said Benjamin Smith, Air Canada’s president of passenger airlines. “Our seasonal Melbourne service will provide additional options for business travellers between North America and Australia as well as Australians seeking a Canadian winter vacation experience.”

Vancouver-Melbourne is one of a series of new seasonal routes Air Canada is planning to launch for the 2017-18 winter season; the airline is also planning to link Vancouver with Orlando, Toronto with Belize City and St Vincent, and Montreal with Lima and Phoenix.

Also this summer, Air Canada will start flying from Vancouver to Denver, Frankfurt, London Gatwick and Boston.