Ottawa has revealed plans to expand the number of authorized direct flights for both passengers and cargo traveling between Canada and China. This move comes as a response to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s diplomatic visit to Beijing this past January, according to Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon.
MacKinnon stated that the two countries will see a gradual rise in direct flights, with Canadian and Chinese airlines gaining permission to increase the number of passenger flights and operate up to 20 weekly cargo flights. Importantly, this arrangement includes mutual access to all destinations across both nations, he added.
The Canadian government emphasized that this flight expansion is aimed at fostering trade diversification and boosting tourism, aligning with Canada’s goal of increasing its exports to China by 50 percent by 2030.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the frequency of direct flights between Canada and China has recovered at a sluggish pace. This slow recovery has frustrated many Canadian businesses, which have been burdened by expensive flight costs and prolonged layovers.
