Texan Usenet

Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights

MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CN/
Air Canada today announced that it will launch the first ever non-stop
flights between Australia and Canada with the introduction of double
daily flights December 16, 2004 in time for the peak travel season in
the southern hemisphere. Flights will be operated using 282-seat
Airbus A340-300 aircraft enabling Air Canada to offer non-stop service
northbound from Sydney to Vancouver.

Southbound flights, requiring a brief stopover in Honolulu for
refueling, will allow customers to stay on board thus eliminating U.S.
customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
citizens of Australia.

With a flight time of 14 hours and 40 minutes, Air Canada's new daily
A340 non-stop service will reduce northbound flying time by two hours
and 15 minutes compared to the carrier's second daily one stop service
and will be almost five hours faster than other carriers' alternate
routings.

"With the introduction of A340 service to Australia, we are offering
customers superior choice and the convenience of non-stop flights for
the first time," said Ben Smith, Vice President, Planning. "

The addition of direct service means significant added convenience for
citizens of Australia and other travellers impacted by U.S. government
visa requirements when transiting via the United States. Our new
non-stop service also means greatly improved travel times with only
one connection to major cities in eastern Canada including Toronto,
Montreal and Ottawa."

Air Canada will maintain its second daily flight operated via Honolulu
with a 212-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. These flights allow
passengers to stop over in Hawaii between Canada and Australia and
also provide the only daily non-stop flights for local customers
traveling between Hawaii and Australia. With the introduction of
first-ever double daily service Air Canada is increasing the number of
seats on the route by 33 per cent over last year.

Flight AC033, an Airbus A340-300, departs Vancouver at 18:10, arrives
in Honolulu at 22:25 for refueling and continues on to Sydney for
arrival at 07:00, two days later.

Flight AC034 departs Sydney at 11:15 and arrives in Vancouver at 06:55
the same day. AC045, a Boeing 767-300, departs Vancouver at 16:50,
arrives in Honolulu at 21:00, departs Honolulu at 22:30 and arrives in
Sydney at 06:05, two days later.

AC046 departs Sydney at 08:30, arrives at Honolulu at 22:25, departs
Honolulu at 22:55, and arrives in Vancouver at 06:25 the same day.


Source: AIR CANADA; AIR CANADA - ROUTE & NETWORK - FLEET

Raffi Balmanoukian

in article [email protected],
[email protected] at [email protected]
wrote on 10/26/04 8:11 PM:

    > Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
    > Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights
    >
If they are running Exec. First on that run, it may well be a good trip
(have done that on a couple long hauls). Otherwise, AC would probably be
one of my last choices for the kangaroo run as they are horrifically bad for
lengthy legs - strange for such a big country as this.

Have yet to fly with the "new, improved balance sheet,
more-surly-than-normal" post-bankruptcy AC. Comments?

Gerrit 't Hart

"Raffi Balmanoukian" <[email protected] a>
wrote in message
news:BDA475F2.27D93%walkabout@TAKEOUTTHETRASHTOREP LY.ns.sympatico.ca...
    > in article [email protected],
    > [email protected] at
[email protected]
    > wrote on 10/26/04 8:11 PM:
    > > Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
    > > Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights
    > >
    > If they are running Exec. First on that run, it may well be a good trip
    > (have done that on a couple long hauls). Otherwise, AC would probably be
    > one of my last choices for the kangaroo run as they are horrifically bad
for
    > lengthy legs - strange for such a big country as this.
    > Have yet to fly with the "new, improved balance sheet,
    > more-surly-than-normal" post-bankruptcy AC. Comments?

Flew AC from Paris to Toronto in July. Due to the collapse of part of
terminal 2 there we had to use terminal 1. Chaotic!!
Mind you it meant that we were almost last in the queue to board and seat
allocations were done at the gate. We were upgraded to Exec First Class!
Have previousy flown First Class with (the now extint) Ansett and AC was a
dissapointment. Everything was Ok and better than normal cattle class and
the seat was larger and there was more leg room, but, (a) the seats were not
comfortable, (b) the comfort pack was worse than the one in cattle for SIA,
(c) the food was not exeptional, and there was not even a personal TV
screen. The service was good though and considering we expected to be in
economy I guess I am being a little churlish in criticising.
I had heard about the surly cabin crew on AC from the kids but must say that
I did not come accross this at all. Even when we flew Toronto to Edmonton
late September the service anything but surly!
If the A340-300s have better seating than the A320 we had from Paris to
Tornto then I guess Vancouver to Sydney would be bearable considering the
alternative.
We flew Vancouver to Singapore via Seoul and then on to Perth earlier this
month with SIA and I can assure you that was no joke!
Got near your place too Raffi. Spent two weeks travelling by car from
Hamilton (On) to Quebec and then to New Brunswick and PEI. Sorry Nova Scotia
wouldn't fit into the time frame. Next time perhaps. We can have a wine
together.
Gerrit - Perth

Henry

<[email protected]> wrote:

    > Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
    > Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights
    >
    > MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CN/
    > Air Canada today announced ...



    >
    > Southbound flights, requiring a brief stopover in Honolulu for
    > refueling, will allow customers to stay on board thus eliminating U.S.
    > customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
    > citizens of Australia.


Hmmmm. What does this mean?

    > eliminating U.S.
    > customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
    > citizens of Australia.

For _some_ travelers? But not all?

If everybody stays on board, does that mean that the customs and visa
inspectors will come on the plane to check people?

cheers,

Henry

Texan Usenet

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 08:00:56 +0300, [email protected] (Henry) wrote:

    ><[email protected]> wrote:
    >> Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
    >> Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights
    >>
    >> MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CN/
    >> Air Canada today announced ...
    >> Southbound flights, requiring a brief stopover in Honolulu for
    >> refueling, will allow customers to stay on board thus eliminating U.S.
    >> customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
    >> citizens of Australia.
    >Hmmmm. What does this mean?
    >> eliminating U.S.
    >> customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
    >> citizens of Australia.
    >For _some_ travelers? But not all?
    >If everybody stays on board, does that mean that the customs and visa
    >inspectors will come on the plane to check people?
    >cheers,
    >Henry
\

Suggest you contact AC and ask!

Cath

Peter Webb

"Henry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1gmb1ja.1056p4sxix7fwN%[email protected]...
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
    >> Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights
    >> MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CN/
    >> Air Canada today announced ...
    >> Southbound flights, requiring a brief stopover in Honolulu for
    >> refueling, will allow customers to stay on board thus eliminating U.S.
    >> customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
    >> citizens of Australia.
    > Hmmmm. What does this mean?
    >> eliminating U.S.
    >> customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
    >> citizens of Australia.
    > For _some_ travelers? But not all?

US citizens (and possibly Canadian citizens, for all I know), don't need
transit visas, so the refueling stop doesn't eliminate the need for transit
visas for these people (as they never needed them anyway).

This is how it used to be for Qantas refueiling in Bahrain on Oz-England -
you would spend an hour in your seats staring out the window, waiting,
waiting, waiting ...

Raffi Balmanoukian

in article [email protected],
Gerrit 't Hart at [email protected] wrote on 10/26/04 11:57 PM:

    >
    > "Raffi Balmanoukian" <[email protected] a>
    > wrote in message
    > news:BDA475F2.27D93%walkabout@TAKEOUTTHETRASHTOREP LY.ns.sympatico.ca...
    >> in article [email protected],
    >> [email protected] at
    > [email protected]
    >> wrote on 10/26/04 8:11 PM:
    >>
    >>> Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
    >>> Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights
    >>>
    >> If they are running Exec. First on that run, it may well be a good trip
    >> (have done that on a couple long hauls). Otherwise, AC would probably be
    >> one of my last choices for the kangaroo run as they are horrifically bad
    > for
    >> lengthy legs - strange for such a big country as this.
    >>
    >> Have yet to fly with the "new, improved balance sheet,
    >> more-surly-than-normal" post-bankruptcy AC. Comments?
    >>
    >
    > Flew AC from Paris to Toronto in July. Due to the collapse of part of
    > terminal 2 there we had to use terminal 1. Chaotic!!
    > Mind you it meant that we were almost last in the queue to board and seat
    > allocations were done at the gate. We were upgraded to Exec First Class!
    > Have previousy flown First Class with (the now extint) Ansett and AC was a
    > dissapointment. Everything was Ok and better than normal cattle class and
    > the seat was larger and there was more leg room, but, (a) the seats were not
    > comfortable, (b) the comfort pack was worse than the one in cattle for SIA,
    > (c) the food was not exeptional, and there was not even a personal TV
    > screen. The service was good though and considering we expected to be in
    > economy I guess I am being a little churlish in criticising.
    > I had heard about the surly cabin crew on AC from the kids but must say that
    > I did not come accross this at all. Even when we flew Toronto to Edmonton
    > late September the service anything but surly!
    > If the A340-300s have better seating than the A320 we had from Paris to
    > Tornto then I guess Vancouver to Sydney would be bearable considering the
    > alternative.
    > We flew Vancouver to Singapore via Seoul and then on to Perth earlier this
    > month with SIA and I can assure you that was no joke!
    > Got near your place too Raffi. Spent two weeks travelling by car from
    > Hamilton (On) to Quebec and then to New Brunswick and PEI. Sorry Nova Scotia
    > wouldn't fit into the time frame. Next time perhaps. We can have a wine
    > together.
    > Gerrit - Perth
    >
    >


You'd love Nova Scotia Gerrit, but please don't hold Nova Scotian wine
against us!

As for AC, I have flown them before and during bankruptcy proceedings but
not after (they just emerged) - strikes me they are continuing to make all
the same mistakes, and more. Marketing is one thing, but repainting all the
planes, ordering new uniforms, canceling Bombardier orders to place them
with Embraer, and so on while staff are still smarting from huge pay cuts
(admittedly needed) doesn't strike me as the best way to boost morale.

The flight experience largely depends, I'm afraid, on the crew you get.
I've had the most wonderful bunch (generally crews based on either coast,
although my bias is showing), and ones who make Lufthansa look positively
warm and fuzzy. Time will tell.

Yukonifm

I have flown the Air Canada Vancouver to Sydney route on three
occasions previously (with the stop in Honolulu - where we deplaned
and sat in the departure lounge and never ONCE saw US customs...)

As has been suggested here, the quality of the flight is dependant on
the crew. My experience -I gave them 3 tries - they struck out.

I would swim to Australia before I would ever fly with Air Canada
again.

I can only hope someone has had a more positive experience.

Geoff McCaughan

Henry <[email protected]> wrote:
    > <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Hmmmm. What does this mean?

    >> eliminating U.S.
    >> customs clearance and transit visas for some travelers including
    >> citizens of Australia.

    > For _some_ travelers? But not all?

I expect that it means that normally some travellers would require transit
visas [not Canadians presumably], but this requirement has been eliminated.

--
Burn the land and boil the sea,
You can't take the sky from me.

Raffi Balmanoukian

in article [email protected], yukonifm at
[email protected] wrote on 10/27/04 6:05 PM:

    > I have flown the Air Canada Vancouver to Sydney route on three
    > occasions previously (with the stop in Honolulu - where we deplaned
    > and sat in the departure lounge and never ONCE saw US customs...)
    >
    > As has been suggested here, the quality of the flight is dependant on
    > the crew. My experience -I gave them 3 tries - they struck out.
    >
    > I would swim to Australia before I would ever fly with Air Canada
    > again.
    >
    > I can only hope someone has had a more positive experience.


The problem with long hauls on MANY airlines - not just AC - is the senior
(burned-out) cabin crews get first crack. The worst long haul, no question,
was on LH (WDH-FRA), not because of any problems with the plane or schedule,
but a more surly bunch you will never find (even on UA whose kangaroo run
varies enormously from wonderful to mind-numbing).

I suspect, with the recent cuts coupled with enormous wastes of money by
management-in-possession (Robert Milton and his crew) and a tremendously
underfunded pension, it will be the senior crews who will be most
recalcitrant for the near future. Can't say I really blame 'em, but
unfortunately it's the pax who suffer.

(the best AC service I've received has, generally, been from junior staff
regardless of the geography).

A Mate

Flew AC last July - from LAX to London (via Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto)
with stopovers in each.

Check in (Business Class) was good - except in LAX where the security was
chaotic. Service varied - as it always does on any line, according to the
particular crew. Food was universally abominable. The FA on LAX to Vancouver
commented that no-one was eating it - and she could see why!!!

Seat pitch and comfort was very ordinary - except on the trans-Atlantic leg,
where it was fine, without being exceptional.

We were on Star Alliance rtw tickets - with other legs being flown on Air
NZ, BMI, Lufthansa and SIA. Food and comfort levels were highest on ANZ in
my opinion. We flew SIA from Istanbul to Singapore, and then on to
Brisbane - so we were on their 777's - which I believe are set up on those
routes for 'medium haul' rather than 'long haul'!!! Certainly the SIA
flights were disappointing, given their high reputation!!


"Raffi Balmanoukian" <[email protected] a>
wrote in message
news:BDA5083E.27DA8%walkabout@TAKEOUTTHETRASHTOREP LY.ns.sympatico.ca...
    > in article [email protected],
    > Gerrit 't Hart at [email protected] wrote on 10/26/04 11:57 PM:
    >> "Raffi Balmanoukian" <[email protected] a>
    >> wrote in message
    >> news:BDA475F2.27D93%walkabout@TAKEOUTTHETRASHTOREP LY.ns.sympatico.ca...
    >>> in article [email protected],
    >>> [email protected] at
    >> [email protected]
    >>> wrote on 10/26/04 8:11 PM:
    >>>> Air Canada to Launch First Ever Non-Stop Service Between Sydney,
    >>>> Australia and Vancouver with Introduction of Double Daily Flights
    >>> If they are running Exec. First on that run, it may well be a good trip
    >>> (have done that on a couple long hauls). Otherwise, AC would probably
    >>> be
    >>> one of my last choices for the kangaroo run as they are horrifically bad
    >> for
    >>> lengthy legs - strange for such a big country as this.
    >>> Have yet to fly with the "new, improved balance sheet,
    >>> more-surly-than-normal" post-bankruptcy AC. Comments?
    >> Flew AC from Paris to Toronto in July. Due to the collapse of part of
    >> terminal 2 there we had to use terminal 1. Chaotic!!
    >> Mind you it meant that we were almost last in the queue to board and seat
    >> allocations were done at the gate. We were upgraded to Exec First Class!
    >> Have previousy flown First Class with (the now extint) Ansett and AC was
    >> a
    >> dissapointment. Everything was Ok and better than normal cattle class and
    >> the seat was larger and there was more leg room, but, (a) the seats were
    >> not
    >> comfortable, (b) the comfort pack was worse than the one in cattle for
    >> SIA,
    >> (c) the food was not exeptional, and there was not even a personal TV
    >> screen. The service was good though and considering we expected to be in
    >> economy I guess I am being a little churlish in criticising.
    >> I had heard about the surly cabin crew on AC from the kids but must say
    >> that
    >> I did not come accross this at all. Even when we flew Toronto to Edmonton
    >> late September the service anything but surly!
    >> If the A340-300s have better seating than the A320 we had from Paris to
    >> Tornto then I guess Vancouver to Sydney would be bearable considering the
    >> alternative.
    >> We flew Vancouver to Singapore via Seoul and then on to Perth earlier
    >> this
    >> month with SIA and I can assure you that was no joke!
    >> Got near your place too Raffi. Spent two weeks travelling by car from
    >> Hamilton (On) to Quebec and then to New Brunswick and PEI. Sorry Nova
    >> Scotia
    >> wouldn't fit into the time frame. Next time perhaps. We can have a wine
    >> together.
    >> Gerrit - Perth
    > You'd love Nova Scotia Gerrit, but please don't hold Nova Scotian wine
    > against us!
    > As for AC, I have flown them before and during bankruptcy proceedings but
    > not after (they just emerged) - strikes me they are continuing to make all
    > the same mistakes, and more. Marketing is one thing, but repainting all
    > the
    > planes, ordering new uniforms, canceling Bombardier orders to place them
    > with Embraer, and so on while staff are still smarting from huge pay cuts
    > (admittedly needed) doesn't strike me as the best way to boost morale.
    > The flight experience largely depends, I'm afraid, on the crew you get.
    > I've had the most wonderful bunch (generally crews based on either coast,
    > although my bias is showing), and ones who make Lufthansa look positively
    > warm and fuzzy. Time will tell.
    >

Not the Karl Orff

In article <[email protected] >,
[email protected] (yukonifm) wrote:

    > I have flown the Air Canada Vancouver to Sydney route on three
    > occasions previously (with the stop in Honolulu - where we deplaned
    > and sat in the departure lounge and never ONCE saw US customs...)

That must have been pre 2000 or even 1999. Back then, there was no
check by U.S. IMMIGRATION (then I.N.S.). Sometime in 2000 or 1999, INS
agents started checking doucments of anyone transitting at HNL going
between SYD and YVR (or VYZ). Then in Sept. 2001, a *full* immigration
AND customs clearance was required even for same-plane transit.

Al Bennett

"Raffi Balmanoukian" <[email protected] a> wrote in
message news:BDA475F2.27D93%walkabout@TAKEOUTTHETRASHTOREP LY.ns.sympatico.ca...


    >Have yet to fly with the "new, improved balance sheet,
    >more-surly-than-normal" post-bankruptcy AC. Comments?

I just got back this morning after doing a SYD-HNL-YVR-YOW-YUL
-ORD-YYZ-YVR-SYD trip with them. In 34 odd years of flying around
the world in F J and Y cabins, the crew I had going over from SYD
on the first leg was without a doubt one of the best (certainly
top 5) flight experiences I have ever had from any crew of
the many carriers I have flown. ExecutiveFirst class admittedly,
but I had the same crew 24 hours later on the continuation
from HNL-YVR and with the upgrade not clearing, I experienced
the rest of the crew that were down the back as I was in Y on this
leg.
The Exec First (Business/First cabin) lunch meal service after
take-off from SYD took forever to get through, but in a good way.
5 or 6 courses all served up individually (as opposed to a set tray)
and at a leisurely pace. No "hurry up and eat your meal so I can
go have a rest break" mentality here - more like a dining experience
at a reasonable quality restaurant. We were still on the after
dessert options (like port and cheeses) as we flew over Fiji to give
an idea of how long and how well presented the whole service
was. A "reduced" supper service (which would pass as a
main meal on some other carriers I've flown) before arrival in HNL.

The crew on the HNL-SYD portion last night was as equally
pleasing but not as good as the crew going over. Lot's of
smiles, distinct willingness to serve and provide, good
natured banter were highlights. Constant water runs through the
night, 3 or 4 crew members actually going out of their way to try
and help reseat some pax for various reasons without being asked
to help etc.
If this is an indication of the new morale and optimism the staff feel
they are capable of offering, then the new in flight enhancements
will only be icing on the cake. The big let down is the interiors and
the lack of gadgets such as PTV's etc, all to be resolved over the
next 18 months, but that's a long time to update and refurb a
fairly small International fleet.
2 flights does not a consistency make, however it is a huge
improvement on past performances - particularly
the attitude and demeanour of the crews involved.
Milton has stated that the "new" AC will focus very strongly
on International, so perhaps this is the start of that new focus.
Getting the crews involved, "on board" with the vision and the
program and a vital part of the program to be instigated.

The domestic flights were crewed for the most part with
motivated sincere staff with some exceptions, however
domestic is domestic worldwide. All with a grain of salt.

Peter

In article <[email protected]>, Al Bennett
says...
    > I just got back this morning after doing a SYD-HNL-YVR-YOW-YUL
    > -ORD-YYZ-YVR-SYD trip with them.

Thanks, for the update, Al!