Seasons Greetings & Best Wishes for a Happy &
YOUR AIRPORT & SEA ISLAND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
SKYTALKONLINE.COM
Prosperous New Year The SkyTalk Team
DECEMBER 2016
Hong Kong Airlines to make North American debut at YVR
Airport Community:
Autism Access Sticker PG
3
Airlines:
Starting on June 30, 2017, Hong Kong Airlines will begin non-stop daily service between Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR). This year-round service will mark the airline’s North American debut and offer increased access from Vancouver to Hong Kong, a global hub for commerce, culture and cuisine. “Hong Kong Airlines is a well-known, family-friendly airline based in a worldclass city and we are thrilled
Hong Kong Airlines will begin North American service in 2017, providing a daily, year-round flights to YVR from Hong Kong.
to be able to offer the public even more options to travel between Vancouver and Hong Kong,” said Craig Richmond,
president and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “Every new airline that chooses to fly to YVR means more jobs for
the local economy and creates new opportunities for British Columbians.” Hong Kong Airlines (HX)
will initially operate the route using an Airbus 330-200 with 283 seats. The airline operates one of the youngest fleets in the world, with an average aircraft age of 4.1 years. Its fleet consists of 34 aircraft, which includes nine Airbus 330-300, nine Airbus 330-200, 11 Airbus 320 and five cargo planes. The airline also has 15 next-generation Airbus 350900 aircraft on order.
See HONG KONG AIRLINES page 2
YVR celebrates record passenger growth with Air Canada McCafé available onboard WestJet PG
6
Airports:
Therapy pig at San Francisco International
PG
11
Government:
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) celebrated a recordbreaking year in passenger growth, welcoming more than 18.8-million passengers between January and October 2016—representing a year-over-year growth rate of 9.5 per cent, putting YVR on track to reach 22-million passengers in 2016. This increase is largely recognized in Air Canada’s expansion of its transpacific hub out of YVR, representing approximately 50 per cent of passengers at YVR and serving more than 55 destinations worldwide. “Air Canada has been an incredible partner in increasing our passenger growth by continuously delivering new and exciting destinations for our customers,” said
YVR’s president & CEO Craig Richmond. “I’d like to thank Air Canada for their commitment to growing their transpacific hub out of YVR and in turn supporting our vision to be a sustainable gateway hub between Asia and the Americas. We couldn’t do this without their support.” Between January and October 2016, Air Canada reached a record high for capacity with 10.9-million seats—an increase of 12 per cent over the same period in 2015. The airline’s international sector, which includes the Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, led the growth with a 22.6 per cent increase. In 2016, YVR introduced a new five-year airline rates and charges program, ConnectYVR, which provides a highly competi-
tive rate structure and includes rates lower than any other major airport in Canada and competing U.S. airports. This program, alongside YVR’s world-class facility and convenient geographical location, has aided the growth of Air Canada’s successful transpacific hub. Since 2015, Air Canada introduced eight new services to YVR: Osaka, Cancun, San Jose, San Diego, Chicago, Dublin, Brisbane and Delhi. This growth will continue in 2017 with five new destinations scheduled to launch, including Taipei, Nagoya, Frankfurt, London Gatwick and Dallas. For more information on Air Canada flights, visit aircanada. com.
Air Canada represents 50 per cent of YVR passenger traffic, putting the airport on track to reach 22-million passengers in 2017.
Magical carousel ride at VanDusen Airbus C295W chosen for Search & Rescue PG 13 Restaurant Guide:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings PG
16
Visit the Festival of Lights and take a selfie by the Eiffel Tower and share on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #JardinsDeParis for a chance to win two economy tickets to Paris, courtesy of Air France and YVR.
The beautiful and internationally renowned VanDusen Botanical Garden is celebrating its 32nd annual Festival of Lights (FOL), Vancouver’s premier and longest-running holiday event, during which the Garden is turned into a magical winter wonderland. VanDusen Botanical Garden, located in the heart of Vancouver, spans across more than 222,000 square metres, with more than 7,500 unique species and varieties of plants arranged in 50 distinct collections. More than 60,000 square metres have been decorated
LIVE TRIVIA EVERY THURSDAY FROM 8:30pm GREAT NIGHTLY SPECIALS! Sunday Night:............... Prime Rib Dinner for $14.95 Monday Night:............... Burger and Beer for $13.50 Tuesday Night:.............. 2 for 1 Appetizers Wednesday Night:........ WINGS are only $0.55 - BEST WING NIGHT IN TOWN! Thursday Night:............ Fish & Chips (Cod) $8.50 for 1 piece, $12.50 for 2 pieces. #101 - 9191 Bentley St, Richmond
604 269 2348
DJ FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS! FREE SHUTTLE FROM RICHMOND TO MILLTOWN BAR & GRILL Friday & Saturday from 7pm.
• In Richmond but access is via Vancouver. Check Facebook @milltownbarandgrill
* YVR is the international aeronautical designation for Vancouver International Airport.
•
with one-million lights to create the annual FOL Garden transformation. The festival includes a Dancing Lights show on Livingstone Lake, roving Scandinavian gnomes, reindeer, music, tasty treats and drinks, Santa and, new this year, a carousel ride that is included free with the purchase of entry tickets. Garden visitors can also experience the romance of Paris right here in Vancouver! Stop by the Eiffel Tower to take a selfie under the dazzling
BOOK YOUR NEW YEARS PARTY NOW!
milltownbar.com
See VANDUSEN page 3