Air Canada Set To Launch YVR-Bangkok Flights
A long-awaited flight connection between Thailand and Canada has finally been realized, with the announcement that Air Canada will operate services to Bangkok from Vancouver starting in the early winter. It will be the only direct non-stop flight to Thailand from North America.
Reps from Air Canada and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomed Vancouver-area travel retailers to a lunch in the city, to celebrate the news last week. While sampling Thai cuisine at Sala Thai, agents learned that the new schedule will start on Dec. 1 and run until April 17.
Flights will operate four days per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from Vancouver, with a departure time of 23:00.
The return flights will take off from Bangkok on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, at 6:35.
Air Canada has assigned a Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner to the new route, featuring a premium economy cabin and a Signature class cabin, formerly AC’s international business class. In addition to services like dedicated check-in counters, expedited security clearance, lounge access and exclusive boarding lanes, Signature class passengers are also treated to complimentary a la carte meals crafted by chef David Hawksworth. This is served at the airline’s airport lounges in Toronto and Vancouver.
“We hope this will become a regular route for Air Canada,” said Viktor Spysak, marketing executive at the TAT in Toronto. He encouraged the assembled agents to focus their efforts on selling seats on the flights.
Spysak took the opportunity to refresh travel advisor memories on the attractions of Thailand. For instance, Maya Bay beach, which was the scenic star of the movie “The Beach,” has been reopened after four years of closure to restore its natural beauty. Maya Bay, on Ko Phi Phi, was a victim of its own popularity, and had been over used by tourists.
Maria Lu, the Asia specialty sales manager for Air Canada, told agents that there were 10,000 hotels and resorts in Thailand, including 250 golf resorts, plus a choice of 1,500 islands for holiday considerations. New, recently opened properties include the Melia Chiang Mai, Melia Koh Samui, Melia Phuket Mai Khao, the Sindhorn Kempinski in Bangkok and the Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui, to name some.
An agents’ specialist program that unpacks facts on Thailand tourism is offered by the TAT at: www.thaitheknotspecialist.com. It provides access to an interactive supplier showcase and directory, high impact discovery presentations and an everyday sales conversion resource.
Go to thailandinsider.com or aircanada.com for more.
In the photo
A team of reps from Air Canada and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently met Vancouver-area travel retailers at a Vancouver event celebrating new Air Canada services to Bangkok. Leading the proceedings were (l. to r.) Rocky Lo, the Air Canada senior director of Asia revenue management & sales; Mark Hashimoto the Air Canada specialty sales manager for Asia; Viktor Spysak, marketing executive for the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Toronto; Maria Lu, the Air Canada specialty sales manager for Asia; Thara Vanaprasert, a marketing assistant for the TAT Toronto and Joey-Dean Lanthier, the Air Canada, senior manager for revenue management.
