Air Canada's Pacific network will expand once again later this year with the addition of new, non-stop, seasonal flights between Auckland and Vancouver.

The new Auckland-Vancouver service will operate four times a week between 14 December 2019 and late March 2020. Passengers will travel on Air Canada's state-of-the-art flagship Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, which offers a choice of three cabins: Economy, Premium Economy and Signature Class (featuring Air Canada's lie-flat, all-aisle access Signature suites).

As with Air Canada's non-stop services to Vancouver from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, flights from Auckland are timed to conveniently connect in Vancouver with Air Canada services to a variety of destinations across Canada and the United States, including New York-Newark.

Vic Naughton, Air Canada's General Manager Australia and New Zealand, says the addition of Auckland continues a period of extraordinary growth for Air Canada in the South Pacific.

"It also further establishes Vancouver International Airport (YVR) as a major Pacific gateway to North America for travellers from across Australasia," says Naughton.

Meanwhile, Air Canada has been named one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers for the fourth consecutive year.

Canada's Best Diversity Employers competition recognizes the nations' leaders in creating inclusive workplaces for employees from five diverse groups: women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) peoples. Employers are selected by the editors at Mediacorp based on submissions to the annual Canada's Top 100 Employers project.

In recognising Air Canada, Mediacorp Canada Inc. cited the airline's inclusivity through partnerships including:

• Indspire's Indigenous scholarship and award program, providing financial support for Indigenous students completing their education in an aviation-related program such as pilot or aircraft mechanic

• Ready, Willing and Able, which matches the unique qualifications of candidates with intellectual disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder to specific roles.

Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Senior Vice President, People, Culture and Communications at Air Canada says that by having a diverse and inclusive workforce, the airline can attract and retain the best talent, while customers see themselves and their cultures reflected in the airline's 30,000 employees.

"Our people work in more than 80 languages, and women occupy prominent roles throughout our airline, from non-traditional roles to the C-suite," says Meloul-Wechsler.