PROMOTION:
Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours
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By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter
Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea.
The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said.
Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Angeles; Miami; and Philadelphia, the airline said.
Photo: Shelley Shan, Taipei Times
Taiwanese travelers can book Air Canada flights departing from Taipei International Airport (Songshan), Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Kaohsiung International Airport, Air Canada said.
They can enjoy preclearance services when entering the US through Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, it added.
The promotion, which runs until Nov. 23, would give Taiwanese travelers a 15 percent or greater discount if they book flights to Canada and other North American cities via the airline’s transit points in Asia, provided that their departure is before July 18 next year, the airline said.
The lowest ticket price is NT$17,144 before tax.
While travelers can book their flights on the airline’s official Web site, those who wish to have a free stopover in Japan and South Korea have to book their flight with the airline’s designated travel agents in Taiwan, including Holiday Tours, Lion Travel, Cola Tour, Southeast Travel, Richmond Tours, ezFly, ezTravel, Star Travel, Friendship Tours, Life Tours and Dragon Tours, Air Canada said.
Tickets with free stopovers would allow passengers to travel to as many as four countries at a time, the airline said.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, or from 2017 to 2020, the airline offered direct flights to Vancouver, with as many as 14 flights per week.
“Air Canada has not given up on the Taiwan market, but due to delays in aircraft delivery schedules and factors such as crew training, the resumption of direct flights is still under evaluation,” Holiday Tours general manager Iris Lee told a news conference in Taipei.
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