The Canadian government has lifted pandemic-era caps on flights between Canada and China, paving the way for an increase in service between the two countries. Multiple airlines have already announced service increases and resumptions with more expected to come.
Background: Canada’s China Flight Caps
In 2021, the Canadian Minister of Transportation issued an order that limited the number of flights operated by Chinese carriers to Canada to two scheduled round-trip passenger flights per week. The order was replaced with a new one in 2022, raising the cap to six weekly frequencies. These orders also prohibited non-stop flights between Canada and Beijing.
Last week, the government rescinded the order, thereby removing these frequency restrictions. Until this move, the six frequencies were allocated as follows (with one weekly flight per route and airline):
- Air China: Beijing–Capital – Vancouver (with a technical stop in Shenyang to avoid the prohibition on direct flights between Canada and Beijing)
- China Eastern Airlines: Shanghai–Pudong – Toronto
- China Southern Airlines: Guangzhou – Toronto
- Hainan Airlines: Shenzhen – Vancouver
- Sichuan Airlines: Chengdu–Tianfu – Vancouver
- XiamenAir: Xiamen – Vancouver
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese carriers operated up to 76 roundtrips between the two countries. Meanwhile, Air Canada – the only Canadian carrier flying to China – flew up to 35 weekly frequencies.
Chinese Airlines Bolster Services to Canada
Following the latest announcement removing the frequency restrictions, Chinese airlines have begun announcing increases in their services to Canada.
Air China plans to resume non-stop Boeing 777-300ER service between Beijing Capital International Airport and Vancouver International Airport on November 8, 2024. The flight will replace the existing service that operates via Shenyang. Starting on November 18, 2024, the frequency will increase to three flights per week.
China Eastern will increase its once-weekly roundtrip between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport to four flights per week starting on November 18, 2024. The airline uses its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on this route.
Announcements from other Chinese airlines are expected to follow in the coming weeks and months. This could include the resumption of routes that ended during the pandemic, such as Beijing Capital Airlines’ service from Hangzhou and Qingdao to Vancouver and China Southern Airlines’ flights between Guangzhou and Vancouver.
Air Canada Ramps Up China Flights
Air Canada has also announced increases to its flights between Canada and China. The Canadian flag carrier’s only existing service to China is a route between Vancouver and Shanghai–Pudong that operates four times per week with a Boeing 787-9. The airline will now operate this route daily starting on December 7, 2024.
Meanwhile, the carrier has also announced a resumption of flights between Vancouver and Beijing–Capital. Daily flights are set to begin on January 15, 2025 with Air Canada’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
