Manila welcomes Air Canada’s inaugural direct flight to the Philippines

DAVAO CITY—Air Canada has officially launched its first-ever direct flight to the Philippines, and Manila is now included in the airline’s growing Asia-Pacific network.

The new Vancouver–Manila–Vancouver nonstop route offers a convenient travel option for tourists, families, and business travelers while strengthening ties between Canada and the Philippines.

To mark the milestone, passengers of Air Canada Flight AC17 received a warm welcome upon landing in Manila on April 3. A special arrival ceremony was held at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), attended by key officials including Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman, Air Canada Managing Director Rocky Lo, New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) Head of Leasing and Commercial Development Cecile Ang, NNIC General Manager Lito Alvarez, and MIAA General Manager Eric Ines.

According to the airline, Air Canada will operate three nonstop weekly flights between Vancouver and Manila throughout April. The frequency will increase to four flights per week starting May 2025.

The route uses the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, offering a premium onboard experience with three cabin classes: Signature Class (with lie-flat pods), Premium Economy, and Economy. The aircraft features in-flight entertainment with content in English, French, and Tagalog. The flight schedule is designed for smooth onward connections across Canada and the United States, including to Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal.

Tourism officials have welcomed the new route as a significant boost for both leisure and business travel. They expect it will encourage more Canadian tourists to visit the Philippines’ beaches, diving destinations, and cultural sites.

Filipino exporters are also expected to benefit from enhanced cargo capacity aboard the Dreamliner, which will improve their access to Canadian markets.

“This is connectivity not just for people, but for economies,” a representative from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

The aircraft that operated the inaugural flight, C-FVNB, featured a special “Congratulations” livery to celebrate the occasion.

With over 900,000 Canadians of Filipino descent, launching the direct service is a major step in reconnecting families, supporting diaspora travel, and deepening transpacific ties between the two countries.