World Traveller 73 
Air Canada Launches New Vancouver – Singapore Non Stop Flight
Every now and then, we get a launch of a route that we are really excited about. Air Canada has just announced that they will re-launching their Vancouver to Singapore service for April 4, 2023. This service will link to large Star Alliance hubs belonging to Air Canada and Singapore Airlines in both Vancouver, Canada and Singapore; providing a great deal of connecting traffic between the two cities. Read on to see all the details about this route and what to expect on board.
Air Canada Launches New Vancouver – Singapore Non Stop Fight.
Air Canada is Canada’s flag carrier and offers service to two hundred and twenty two destinations worldwide. Every now and then we get the launch of an interesting new route from Air Canada that is easy to get excited about.
Air Canada currently serves several Pacific Rim of Destinations out of it’s western hub in Vancouver, Canada:
The current Pacific destinations list include (in part):
- Tokyo, Japan
- Haneda, Japan
- Osaka, Japan
- Hong Kong, China
- Incheon, South Korea
- Bangkok, Thailand (seasonal)
- Sydney, Australia
- Brisbane, Australia
We had previously experienced long haul Air Canada Business Class on their Boeing 787 product, and you can see examples of what to expect on our Air Canada Business Class Vancouver – Incheon Seoul flights, as well as several trips on Air Canada Signature Class Vancouver Toronto and Air Canada Signature Class Toronto – Vancouver. On each flight, we enjoyed the comfort of the seats, as well as the comfort of the aircraft.
Air Canada Announcing the Return to Singapore from Vancouver
It looks as though we can re-add Singapore to the above Pacific Rim destination list.
Air Canada has announced that they will be returning to the Republic of Singapore as of April 4, 2023. Air Canada will be returning to Singapore on a 4 times a week frequency basis.
Truthfully, it’s not actually a new flight between the two countries, but more of a return after a thirty year long absence.
The flights are scheduled to depart as follows:
- AC 19 Vancouver – Singapore (Mon / Wed. /Fri / Sat) departing 00:15 AM arriving 7:20 AM + 1 (Flight Time of 14hrs & 55 minutes)
- AC 20 Singapore – Vancouver (Sun / Tues / Thurs / Sat) departing 9:10 AM arriving 8:40 AM (Flight Time of 15 hrs and 35 mins)
The schedule of the flights allow for the day’s connecting flights into Vancouver, allowing Air Canada to scoop up all the Canadian connecting traffic into Vancouver, before heading out at midnight plus fifteen minutes onwards to Singapore. Likewise, the eastbound returning flight to Canada arriving at 8:40 AM, allowing for plenty of daytime connection time into other areas and regions of domestic Canada.
The only passengers that this doesn’t allow for a great connection window are passengers that are connecting from International Flights to / from the United States, as the flight times are a little too late ore a little too early for the flights that typically leave on a transborder basis.
It’s perhaps also worth noting that Singapore Airlines has tried this route several times over the last thirty years. Singapore Airlines previously served Vancouver with direct service via Incheon Seoul. Singapore Airlines cancelled the routing via Soeul in the year 2009.
More recently in 2019, Singapore Airlines restarted the route with a combination of one stop service through Seattle, before settling on non stop service Vancouver – Singapore. Unfortunately, that non stop route didn’t last, and we are seeing that Singapore Airlines route be cut as of October 5, 2022.
United Airlines also serves Singapore on a non stop service from San Francisco in United Airlines Polaris Business Class. United Airlines also served Singapore with a non stop service from Los Angeles, but that route was also cut in favour of San Francisco – Singapore.
What does travel on Air Canada look like?
Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance and offers a three class service consisting of economy, premium economy and business class. It’s relationship to Star Alliance allows for elite benefits across all Star Alliance carriers.
Air Canada offers a Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seats in a 1 – 2 – 1 configuration throughout it’s business class. It’s a really comfortable seat, and nicely set up for working, relaxing and watching television.
The Air Canada Business Class cabin has an upscale look to it, and is generally pleasing to the eye. Thanks to the reverse herringbone seats, east seat is relatively private , and you won’t have any other travellers looking at you, as you travel.
Travellers flying this route in business class will be in for a comfortable ride all the way to Singapore.
The Lounge Access Arrangement in Vancouver and Singapore:
The Air Canada Vancouver – Singapore flight will have access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver International. Those that are on a qualifying revenue flight will have access to the coveted Air Canada Vancouver International Signature Suite; Air Canada’s ultimate lounge offering. The Air Canada Signature Suite offers table side dining, along with premium spirits and cocktails on the second floor of the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Vancouver International
Those holding an American Express Platinum Card may also have access to the other lounges in the Vancouver International Airport terminal; the Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver International and the Skyteam Lounge Vancouver International. While both of these lounges are satisfactory and will meet your needs, they won’t be as nice as the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge which offers much more limited access.
At the Singapore end, while they haven’t officially announced which terminal it is expected that Air Canada will use, I will aim to guess that it will be Singapore Changi Airport Terminal Three. This is the same terminal that United Airlines uses, along with being Singapore Airlines’ flag carrier terminal, and many other Star Alliance carriers.
Singapore Airlines Changi Terminal Three offers both a Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Business Class Lounge for business class travellers, as well as a Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold Lounge for it’s Star Alliance Gold travellers, travelling in any class of service. There are also several Priority Pass options at Singapore Changi International Airport, such as the SATS Premier Lounge Singapore, among others.
Frequent Flier Opportunities:
Air Canada allows access to this flight through redemptions from Air Canada’s Aeroplan. Other Star Alliance carriers would also likely have access to this Business Class Reward Space (I fare bucket) space.
Regrettably, as a result of a switch to dynamic pricing, Air Canada redemptions aren’t that terrific a value through the Air Canada Aeroplan program.
On the earning side, travellers are likely to earn 7,967 miles each way on this flight between the two cities. There is the potential to earn higher amounts in Air Canada comfort, latitude and premium economy and business class fare categories.
Flights are Already on Sale:
Air Canada has already loaded flights for sale into their website. The route is currently on sale, right up to the end the schedule.
At times, the launch of a new flight can bring along some promotional fares to get the demand going on the route to increase demand. Unfortunately, at the time of the press release, there were no promotional fares announced to kick off this particular flight.
The paid fares in Business Class are launching at around $6,700 Canadian Dollars. This is slightly higher than Philippine Airlines that generally offers the cheapest paid fares on this route at $4,950 Canadian Dollars.
It seems that Air Canada is deciding to forgo any introductory fares at the time of launch, as the non stop is definitely pricing at a bit of a premium. However, the route is pricing a lot cheaper than Singapore Airlines, which regularly priced this route at over $11,000 Canadian Dollars.
Along with any new route business class availability seems to be pretty good. There are at least two seats for sale on most days. Much like their Vancouver – Sydney routes, it is hopeful we will see Aeroplan award availability open up if revenue seats remain unsold shortly before departure.
Given that the seats on Air Canada are quite expensive when booked through the Air Canada Aeroplan program, the seats are settling for over 200,000 Aeroplan miles one way. This is much more expensive than the cheapest route between Vancouver and Singapore on Air India through New Delhi, which prices out at 85,000 in Business Class.
Hopefully, we will see pricing pressure come down on this route but I wouldn’t remain too hopeful in the short term given that Air Canada promotional sales aren’t typically too generous.
The Bottom Line: Air Canada is relaunching Service between Canada and Sinagpore.
It’s always exciting to see a new route get announced; especially if it is one that will offer some value to travellers. As a Vancouver based traveler, I expect that I may travel on this route at some point in the future.
Air Canada is re-launching service between Canada and Singapore through it’s western Air Canada hub in Vancouver. In doing so, both Air Canada and Singapore Airlines hope to collect much of the connecting traffic through these two Star Alliance Hubs. Travellers can expect to be seated in comfortable Air Canada business class seating; assuming they aim for that coveted business class cabin.
Let’s hope the route lasts a lot longer than the Singapore Airlines efforts at it; which were ultimately cancelled as a result of lack of long term demand.
World Traveller 73 
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