Commencing on 17 June 2016, Air Canada will begin a new direct service Vancouver-Brisbane, Australia three times weekly with its new fleet of B787-9 Dreamliners.

“Air Canada continues to strategically expand its international network with the addition of our second Australian destination – Brisbane,” said Calin Rovinescu, Air Canada’s president & CEO.

“The new route increases our presence in the Asia Pacific market at a time when trade and travel in the region and between North America is growing, with a further boost expected from the Trans-Pacific Partnership now under negotiation.

Brisbane is the third new Pacific route announced in the past year after Toronto-Tokyo Haneda and Vancouver- Osaka.”Rovinsecu added that the route had been made possible by the “operating economics of the Dreamliner”. Already this year the national carrier has launched four new international routes, including Montreal-Venice, Montreal-Mexico City, Toronto-Amsterdam and Vancouver- Osaka. New flights from Toronto to Dubai and Delhi will also commence this autumn.

Air Canada has 29 of the B787-9s on order for delivery between 2016 and 2019.