Air Canada to Increase Flights to China as Travel Restrictions Ease

Starting December, Air Canada has announced that it will significantly increase direct flights between Canada and China, marking an easing in travel restrictions and a potential boost to trade between the two countries.

The announcement comes after Canada removed a cap imposed in 2022 on flights operated by Chinese carriers, according to CAAC News, the news division of China’s Civil Aviation Administration.

Air Canada, currently operating four flights per week from Vancouver to Shanghai, will raise its services to seven flights weekly beginning on December 7, with a daily route from Vancouver to Beijing launching on January 15, according to CAAC News. Meanwhile, Chinese airlines are ramping up applications for additional routes to Canada, underscoring mutual efforts to bolster the air transport sector as travel demand returns.

“Strengthening travel ties will support both economies and drive the recovery of bilateral air transport,” CAAC News reported.

While Air Canada has not yet commented on the news, the ramped-up flights reflect both countries’ recent commitment to fostering “pragmatic” engagement, even amid trade tensions.

Before the pandemic, flights between Canada and China were plentiful, with Air Canada operating up to 35 flights weekly, while Chinese airlines ran 76 direct round-trip flights, Cirium flight schedule data shows.

COVID-19 restrictions, however, reduced these numbers by nearly 90%. Since then, Beijing’s zero-COVID policy and Canadian restrictions on Chinese carriers limited flights to just six weekly round trips without direct routes to Beijing, which the Canadian Transportation Agency lifted last week.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed optimism over Canada’s move, encouraging Ottawa to maintain favorable conditions for personnel exchanges between both countries.

Despite improving transport ties, Canadian carriers continue to face a disadvantage due to restricted access to Russian airspace, imposed after the war in Ukraine.

This restriction has prolonged flight times from Toronto and eastern Canada, making direct routes to China less feasible, as Chinese airlines maintain shorter northern routes through Russian airspace to North America and Europe, securing a competitive advantage in market share.

Bilateral relations between Canada and China, which have been strained since 2018 after the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou and subsequent arrests of two Canadians in China, remain challenging.

Though diplomatic relations resumed in July following a visit by Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly to Beijing, recent trade tensions linger, with Canada considering restrictions on Chinese-made software in electric vehicles, alongside tariffs on steel, aluminum, and EV imports from China. Beijing’s anti-discrimination investigations in September further underscored the ongoing friction.

Chioma Kalu

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