YVR Welcomes New Service to the Emerald Isle

Air Canada Rouge Launches New Non-Stop Seasonal Service to Dublin

RICHMOND, BC, June 10, 2016 /CNW/ - Today, Air Canada Rouge and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) celebrated new seasonal service between Vancouver and Dublin, Ireland. The flight will depart YVR three times weekly between June 10 and October 8, 2016 and is the only non-stop service from Vancouver to Dublin Airport (DUB).

"Air Canada Rouge's new non-stop service to Dublin is a great step towards further connecting YVR with Europe," said Craig Richmond, President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. "By establishing the only non-stop flight between YVR to Dublin, Air Canada Rouge is offering our customers another great destination while also contributing to YVR's growth plans."

The new service will contribute $2.6 million to B.C.s' Gross Domestic Product and will add 37 jobs at YVR and in nearby hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions. In addition, the service opens up exciting new opportunities for both countries in tourism, education and export businesses.  

YVR's new rates and charges program, ConnectYVR, helps our airline partners establish new routes through its highly competitive rate structure. This program, which includes rates lower than any other major airport in Canada and competing US airports, helped make this route possible.

 "We are pleased to add the only non-stop flights from Canada's West Coast to Ireland. This route offers convenience to Western Canadians travelling to visit and explore the Emerald Isle's rich landscapes, world-class golf and historic sites, as well as to Irish customers visiting the spectacular attractions Vancouver and British Columbia offer," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "We continue to strategically expand our Vancouver hub, and our seasonal Dublin flights follow our recent launch of non-stop flights from Vancouver to Brisbane, San Diego, Chicago, San Jose, and the doubling of our daily flights to London Heathrow."

Air Canada rouge will use a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring premium and economy cabins. Flights are timed to optimize connectivity to and from Air Canada's extensive West Coast network through the airline's hub at YVR. Flights from Dublin will depart at 11:35 a.m. and will arrive in Vancouver at 1:35 p.m. on Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays. Flights from Vancouver will depart at 3:05 p.m. and arrive in Dublin the next day at 8:35 a.m.

Dana Welch, Tourism Ireland's Manager Canada, said: "We warmly welcome the new Air Canada Rouge service between Vancouver and Dublin, which provides a major boost for both leisure and business tourism from western Canada to the island of Ireland. We look forward to working closely with Air Canada Rouge to maximise the promotion of this flight. As an island destination, the importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights cannot be overstated – they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism."

About Vancouver Airport Authority

Vancouver Airport Authority is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that manages Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Canada's second busiest airport, YVR served more than 20 million passengers in 2015. Fifty-four airlines serve YVR, connecting people and businesses to more than 120 non-stop destinations worldwide. YVR was voted Best Airport in North America for the seventh consecutive year in the 2016 Skytrax World Airport Awards. Vancouver Airport Authority is a dedicated community partner and in 2015 donated more than $900,000 to local organizations. We are committed to creating an airport that British Columbia can be proud of: a premier global gateway, local economic generator and community contributor. For more information, please visit www.yvr.ca.

About Air Canada Rouge

Air Canada Rouge is Air Canada's leisure airline. Together with Air Canada Vacations, Air Canada Rouge offers competitively-priced travel to 70 exciting leisure destinations on 99 routes in Europe, Mexico, the U.S., the Caribbean, Asia, South America, Africa and Canada. As a wholly-owned subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge is backed by Air Canada's reputation for safety and reliability and Air Canada Vacations' history of vacation travel excellence. For more information, visit www.flyrouge.com or to book a flight visit www.aircanada.com.

SOURCE Vancouver Airport Authority

Image with caption: "(From L-R): Barrett Fisher, President and CEO, Tourism Whistler; Dana Welch, Manager, Canada, Tourism Ireland; Renee Smith-Valade, Vice-President, In-Flight Service, Air Canada; Anne Murray, VP Marketing and Communications, Vancouver Airport Authority; John Furlong, special guest of Air Canada; and Marsha Walden, CEO, Destination British Columbia. (CNW Group/Vancouver Airport Authority)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160610_C2326_PHOTO_EN_711511.jpg