Air Canada to expand passenger and cargo services to China

Air Canada to expand passenger and cargo services to China

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

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

   “The new bilateral air agreement is also excellent news for freight forwarders seeking ways to seize new opportunities for trade with China,” said Montie Brewer, Air Canada’s president and chief executive officer. “We are very excited with the prospect of expanding dedicated freighter services to Shanghai and Guangzhou from our main Toronto hub to meet double digit growth in demand from freight forwarders,” he said.

   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.