In the current winter schedule (October 30 – March 25, 2023), JAL operates the Narita – Vancouver route daily, the Narita – Montreal route three times a week, and the Narita – Toronto route four times a week. In the summer schedule (March 26-October 28, 2023), all three routes will be operated daily, and the Haneda-Toronto route will resume daily service in April, and the Kansai International Airport-Vancouver route will resume four round trips per week in June. In addition, the Narita – Vancouver route will be upgraded from a Boeing 787-9 to a 777-300ER. As a result, the seat supply will exceed the size of the 2019 summer season.
Air Canada’s Japan-Canada route schedule (March 26-October 28, 2023)
AC1: Haneda – Toronto, daily (resumed April 21, 2023)
Ac2: Toronto – Haneda, daily (resumed April 22, 2023)
AC3: Narita – Vancouver, daily (upgraded to a larger Boeing 777-300ER)
AC4: Vancouver – Narita, daily (upgraded to Boeing 777-300ER)
AC5: Narita – Montreal, daily (5 round trips per week until April 30, 2023)
AC6: Montreal – Narita, daily (5 round trips per week until May 1, 2023)
AC9: Narita – Toronto, daily
AC10: Toronto – Narita, daily
AC23: Kansai Airport – Vancouver, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday (resumed on June 2, 2023)
AC24: Vancouver – KIX, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (resumed on June 3, 2023)
Commenting on the outlook for demand recovery, Air Canada International Sales Vice President Virgilio Russi said, “We are happy to be back in Japan this way, with plans to operate at more capacity in the summer of 2023 than in 2019. Japan is a historically and traditionally important market. Japan is an important market historically and traditionally. Geopolitically, Japan’s position is also important, and we would like to see it as a strategic base in Asia.
Canada was already open, but with the lifting of Japan’s waterfront measures in October, about 50% of demand from Japan (before Corona) has returned. The APAC region has loosened its restrictions one year behind Europe, but we expect the same level of delay in the return of demand,” he said, explaining the situation.
In addition, they had changed services during the pandemic to reduce contact between passengers and CAs, but since November, they have fully reverted to their previous form of service, including in-flight meals. For example, in business class, they have resumed coat and jacket storage, pre-departure drinks, and hot towels before meals.
As for the company’s bookings for December and beyond, as of November 6, there was a 226.6% increase in bookings from Canada compared to September 18, clearly showing the effect of the relaxation of Japan’s waterfront measures. In this regard, Mr. Russi commented, “Canadians are discovering the goodness of Japan. The slow recovery from Japan is largely due to the influence of the exchange rate, but compared to the U.S. dollar, the Canadian dollar does not have such a strong influence, so people who were thinking of going to the U.S. may decide to go to Canada,” he said, expressing his desire to uncover demand.
© Source travel watch