Turkish Airlines is adding Vancouver to its international roster, making the Western Coast city its third Canadian destination.

Service three days a week starts June 9 aboard Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

It’s good news for Vancouver, which handled a record number of passengers in 2019, but is facing headwinds in 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak in China. Air Canada has suspended its China service for the month of February due to the outbreak. Vancouver is a leading North American gateway to Asia.

The move, while adding a new destination for Vancouver, increases the trans-Atlantic dominance of the Star Alliance, of which Air Canada is a member. That dominance could grow, if a proposed merger between Air Canada and Air Transat is approved by federal regulators.

Turkish boasts service to 318 cities in 126 countries, including existing Canadian service to Toronto and Montreal, all Air Canada hubs.