OREANDA-NEWS.   Vancouver Airport Authority today announced the upcoming arrival of All Nippon Airways (ANA) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The new daily non-stop service to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) begins March 30, 2014 and marks ANA’s first flight to Canada.

“This new service will offer B.C. businesses more options to reach customers in central Tokyo, but also throughout Japan and Asia thanks to ANA’s strong domestic and international networks,” said Craig Richmond, President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “ANA’s decision to fly to YVR further strengthens our position as North America’s gateway of choice to the Asia-Pacific region.”

The new daily service to HND is made possible by recent liberalization to Canada’s air-service agreement with Japan. It will increase YVR’s overall capacity to Tokyo by 30 per cent, complementing existing daily service to Narita International Airport (NRT), which is located approximately 60 km from Tokyo’s downtown core. Originally the main international airport for Tokyo until NRT opened in 1978, HND is located just 15 km from Tokyo’s core. It is the second busiest airport in Asia and the fourth busiest in the world.

 “We are very pleased to announce the launch of long-haul international services from Tokyo to Vancouver,” said Osamu Shinobe, President and CEO, ANA. “Vancouver will be the first destination in Canada for ANA, and we are confident that passenger demand will be high, not only in Japan but in other Asian cities."

Japan and British Columbia have a long and significant history of cultural and economic links. As the world’s third-largest economy, Japan offers B.C. businesses many opportunities to increase exports by taking advantage of its high demand for energy resources, raw materials, seafood and international education. In 2012, USD 101 million worth of B.C. exports left YVR for Japan, making it the third largest market, by value, served from the airport.

ANA’s new flight is expected to generate 356 jobs both at YVR and in B.C.’s hotels, restaurants, shops and tourist attractions, adding to the 1,494 local jobs already created by existing flights to Japan. In total, YVR’s three daily flights to Japan will generate an estimated USD 64.8 million in wages, USD 36.1 million in taxes and USD 99.3 million in added Gross Domestic Product for the province. With more than 23,600 people working on Sea Island, YVR is one of British Columbia’s key economic and employment generators.

ANA’s new service to YVR will use Boeing 767-300 aircraft, with capacity for 214 passengers. Flights will arrive at YVR at 2:55 PM and depart at 4:55 PM.