In this installment of Wednesday Route Highlight, we will be taking a look at Air China’s fifth freedom flight between Montreal, Quebec (YUL) and Havana, Cuba (HAV). As always, if you have any suggestions for a specific route that I should highlight, feel free to leave it below in the comments.
Lets get right into it…
Air China’s flight between Montreal and Havana is a continuation of its flight from Beijing (PEK) to Montreal (YUL) and is one of only two of destinations the airline serves in Canada, the other being Vancouver (YVR). The fifth freedom flight between YUL and HAV is operated a measly 1x weekly on Friday’s through February 2nd, 2018. After that, it is unavailable for booking (hopefully its not cancelled).
On its route to Montreal, Air China presently flies one of its flagship 777-300ER’s, although this is set to switch to one of the airline’s new 787-9’s from November 3rd, 2017. Although what it lacks in size (in comparison to the larger 777-300ER) the 787-9 makes up for in fuel efficiency, passenger comfort, and operational profitability.
Air China’s 787-9’s are outfitted in a 3 class configuration consisting of 30 fully flat business class seats (2-2-2 layout), 34 recliner premium economy seats (3-3-3 layout), and 229 standard economy seats (3-3-3 layout). It is important to note that the premium economy consists of the same number of seats per row (9) as standard economy…
Cmon, step it up Air China. The most valuable asset on a plane is space. How do you expect passengers to pay a higher fare for premium economy when you cant even offer them more room than in standard economy? (The service and food better be damn good)
For what its worth, the cabin doesn’t look half bad. Although, how could it. It’s a brand new 787-9. You’d have to go out of your way to screw that up…
Why Would People Choose to Fly Air China Between Montreal and Havana?
For starters, the flight from YUL to HAV is blocked at roughly 4 hours. Thats less time than the following flights.
- NYC-Phoenix (blocked at 5 and 1/2 hours)
- NYC-Denver (blocked at 4 and 1/2 hours)
- NYC-Cancun (blocked at a little over 4 hours)
For such a short flight, passengers traveling between YUL and HAV get spoiled with a nice wide-body aircraft like the 787 that contains advanced passenger comfort technology like lower cabin altitude, relaxing mood lighting, increased air purification systems, and personal entertainment devices.
In addition, business class passengers get fully flat seats, which is a pretty rare feature on flights to the Caribbean from North America (excluding some JetBlue Mint Flights and select American flights from PHL and CLT).
The only other carrier operating this route is Air Transat, which flies a 737 1x-2x weekly between the two cities (depending on the season). There is no seat map available for this aircraft, although seeing how Air Transat has recliner seats in business class aboard their wide-body A330’s, I will assume that they have a (much) inferior product on their single aisle 737’s.
In total, Air China comes out on top in passenger comfort on the route. If I had to choose between the two airlines when flying between YUL and HAV, I would definitely choose Air China. In all honesty, it would be for the newer aircraft in the 787-9, which offers more passenger comforts.
To the Point!
Air China’s 1x weekly flight between Montreal and Havana is a unique way for North American’s to travel to Cuba. While you won’t be spoiled by business class luxuries when flying in the front of the plane, you will get a flat bed, personal entertainment, and power outlets, which is basically all you can ask for on a quick 4 hour flight. In additon, business class fares aren’t too bad, with one way tickets coming in at around $650 USD, and round trips at around $1,050 USD.
This looks like a very interesting way to travel between North America and the Caribbean. I mean c’mon, these people seem pretty psyched about it…
*Featured Image Courtesy of Boeing
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