Air Canada will restart Australia flights ‘Sydney-Vancouver’ only for fully vaccinated travelers from December 17

Qantas isn’t the only airline sure that international travel will continue in December, with Air Canada declaring it will restart its first Australian route – and vaccination will be compulsory. Air Canada intends to restart Sydney-Vancouver flights from December 17, with flights now on sale as both Australia and Canada resume their international borders.

The airline will fly Sydney-Vancouver four times a week with the first flight to Vancouver taking off on December 17.

Be that as it may, as expected, trans-Pacific travel will be confined to individuals who have been fully vaccinated – and only “with the Government of Canada-accepted vaccines”, the airline notes – albeit this set incorporates the AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer hits being used in Australia.

Before the outbreak of COVID-19, Air Canada had regular non-stop flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane to Vancouver. Air Canada suspended its flights to Australia in April last year.

The airline will fly a 300-seat Boeing 777-300LR on the route, the second-biggest airplane in the carrier’s fleet. Air Canada has previously flown Boeing 787 Dreamliners on its Melbourne and Brisbane routes.

Air Canada has an association with Virgin Australia, permitting travelers to procure frequent flyers and status points through Virgin’s rewards program, Velocity.

Qantas has additionally flagged its goal to begin Sydney-Vancouver flights from December 20. Last week, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce repeated that his airline would require travelers on international flights to be vaccinated.

“As travel restrictions ease across the globe, we are committed to rebuild our international network and continue as a global carrier connecting the world with Canada. With Australians eager to travel again to Canada, we are ready to reunite customers with their families and friends,” said Vic Naughton, general manager, Australia and New Zealand at Air Canada.

“Our flights from Sydney to Vancouver conveniently connect to our flights across Canada and the U.S. at our Vancouver hub.”

Canada’s government has presented severe travel prerequisites for COVID-19. All travelers entering the nation should be fully vaccinated (which likewise incorporates domestic flights and train travel) with an approved vaccine. AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Moderna are all together on Canada’s approved list.

Air Canada says its “industry-leading” CleanCare+ bio-safety protocols will give travelers peace of mind both in airport lounges and in the air and has launched a dedicated online Travel Hub guide to assist visitors with understanding their key travel necessities.

You should likewise give proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before traveling. The data should be given by the Canadian government’s ArriveCAN app. You likewise should have “no signs or symptoms” of COVID-19 to be allowed entry.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted earlier this month about the government’s compulsory vaccination rules for travel.

To continue travel, he said, “you need to know that the person sitting across the aisle from you will be fully vaccinated and that’s what we’re going to make sure”.

Trudeau called a snap election for September 20, wanting to ride a wave of fame over how his government has dealt with the COVID-19 outbreak. In any case, polls now put him marginally behind his opponent, Conservative Party leads Erin O’Toole, who has been censured for saying vaccination is a personal choice and ought not to be ordered.

The restart timetable for Air Canada’s Sydney-Vancouver route sees an initial four flights per week on the aircraft’s long-range Boeing 777-200LR jet, which highlights extensive Signature Class lie-flat business suites, alongside premium economy and economy class seating.

Flight AC34 will withdraws Sydney on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, with the AC33 Vancouver-Sydney leg running on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

The airline takes note that its timetable “may be adjusted as required based on the Covid-19 trajectory and government restrictions.”

Under a partnership with Virgin Australia, Velocity Frequent Flyers can acquire points and status credits on Air Canada flights and even make a booking with their Velocity points, even though at the time of writing this does exclude access to Air Canada’s Maple Leaf airport lounges for Velocity Gold and Platinum members.