20 April 2005

Air Canada to expand passenger and cargo services to China

The following article is excerpted from the 20 April 2005 edition of “American Shipper”.

Air Canada said … it intends to take advantage of the recent Canada-China bilateral air services agreement by introducing a number of new passenger and freight services….

On Jan. 21, the Chinese government agreed to recognize Canada as an officially
approved travel destination….

Air Canada's plans for new passenger and shared cargo services include:

* Toronto/Beijing non-stop service to be increased to daily flights by 2006.
* Daily Toronto/Shanghai non-stop service to begin summer 2006.
* Daily Vancouver/Guangzhou non-stop service to begin summer 2007.

Air Canada is introducing in May cargo operations between Toronto and Shanghai using an MD-11 freighter with a total cargo capacity of 85 tons. Frequency is to be increased to daily flights next year.

In addition, Air Canada said it plans to expand its dedicated cargo operations to China as follows:

* A second daily Toronto/Shanghai freighter service via Vancouver, British Columbia, to begin 2006.
* A daily Toronto/Guangzhou freighter service to begin 2007.

Air Canada also said it plans to add a freighter service to Tianjin to serve northern China.