Air Canada announced the addition of a new direct route between the Vancouver International Airport and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines.

This announcement marks the latest phase in the strategic expansion of Air Canada’s international network. 

The announcement was made on Thursday, 5th December, during the Government of Canada’s Team Canada Trade Mission currently taking place in the Philippines in celebration of 75 years of Canada-Philippines diplomatic relations. 

Air Canada’s executive vice-president for revenue and network planning / president of cargo Mark Galardo said of the new route: “We are thrilled to add Manila to our global network with new, year-round, non-stop service from Vancouver, Air Canada’s Pacific gateway hub. We continue to pursue our international network strategy of expanding to large, fast-growing markets that are presently unserved directly by Air Canada. The Philippines is an important market reflecting long-standing family ties between our two countries with growing business connections and tourism opportunities.”

Galardo added that, with an extensive domestic and transborder network in Vancouver designed to connect seamlessly to its international flights, Air Canada is making travel between North America and the Philippines even more convenient for leisure and business travellers alike. 

A pivotal addition 

This new service to Manila is Air Canada’s third Southeast Asian route launched over the last two years.

Likewise, Air Canada is the only Canadian carrier scheduled to serve the Philippines, presently the largest market in Asia without direct Air Canada service. 

The new route will operate four times weekly beginning 2nd April 2025, using the airline’s flagship Dreamliner aircraft. 

It will be Air Canada’s 12th route in its transpacific network from Vancouver, which includes Japan, South Korea, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, leveraging Vancouver’s geographic position as the closest major North American city to Asia.

With this new service, Air Canada will offer over 180 weekly flights between Canada and the Pacific by next summer, the most non-stop flights of any carrier in the market. 

This also marks a continuation of Air Canada’s expansion into fast-growing markets into Southeast Asia, building off recent additions to Singapore and Bangkok, to more than double summer season seat capacity over the Pacific since 2022.