VANCOUVER — Vancouver International Airport (YVR) will see 13 new services added in 2016 as it builds on a strong 2015 performance that saw an additional two new carriers – Air France and Aeromexico – as well as one million new passengers, which increased its numbers to a record 20 million passengers.
“We are looking at 25 million passengers by 2020 by creating a hub between Asia and America,” said Carl Jones, YVR’s director of air service development at an opening address to members attending UATP’s Airline Distribution 2016 conference, held in Vancouver from March 22-24.
He said new 2016 air services began with WestJet’s Orlando winter service on Jan. 1.
“You may have read the Xiamen Airlines announcement of their three flights per week service starting from YVR in July,” he told delegates of the latest addition. Jones said YVR has Asia’s top five airlines flying out of its facility. “We also have two new Chinese carriers who have filed for permission to begin service to YVR in 2016,” he added, saying that YVR is increasing its role as a focal point for Asian carriers and currently only LAX on the West Coast leads YVR in the number of flights going into Asian destinations.
Information provided by Jones on new flights and carriers scheduled to go out of YVR this year besides WestJet’s Orlando flight include:
- British Airways to London using A380 aircraft beginning May 1, year-round service
- WestJet to Gatwick starting May 6 with seasonal service from May to October
- Air Canada to San Jose starting May 9 with year-round service
- Air Canada to San Diego starting June 2 with seasonal service June to October
- WestJet to London, Ontario starting in June with seasonal service
- WestJet to Hamilton starting in June with seasonal service
- WestJet to Halifax starting in June with seasonal service
- Air Canada to Chicago with year-round service starting in June 4
- Air Canada to Dublin June 10 with seasonal service into October
- Air Canada to Brisbane starting June 17 with year-round service
- Air Transat to Rome beginning June 17 with summer service only
- Xiamen Airlines to Xiamen starting July 25 with year round service