Air Canada, the flag carrier of Canada, will launch a non-stop service between Toronto, US, and Dubai, UAE, commencing November 2015.

The new route will increase Air Canada's presence in the Middle East by providing its customers with direct, non-stop access to Dubai, complementing its other services in the region.

Air Canada currently serves the Middle East primarily through an extensive joint venture with its JV and Star Alliance partner Lufthansa over Frankfurt and Munich, Germany. In addition, the new route will build on Air Canada's existing codeshare relationship with Etihad Airways, with whom it codeshares on three flights a week between Toronto and Abu Dhabi, in the UAE.

"Air Canada's international growth strategy continues to accelerate with the addition of the seventh new international destination to our global network announced in the past year. The thrice-weekly Dubai service will be Air Canada's first non-stop flight to the UAE at a time when air travel between North America and the region is growing, including more international connecting traffic over our Toronto global hub," said Calin Rovinescu, president and chief executive officer at Air Canada.

Tickets for Dubai go on sale on December 16 and the thrice-weekly service will start on November 3, 2015, the airline said. – TradeArabia News Service