Starting in December, Air Canada announced it would significantly increase its direct flights between Canada and China, marking an easing of 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 information division of China’s Civil Aviation Administration.

Air Canada, which currently operates four flights per week from Vancouver to Shanghai, will increase its services to seven flights per week starting December 7, with a daily route from Vancouver to Beijing launching on January 15, according to CAAC News. Meanwhile, Chinese airlines are increasing requests for additional routes to Canada, underscoring mutual efforts to strengthen the airline sector as travel demand picks up.

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

Although Air Canada has not yet commented on the news, the increase in flights reflects the two 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 per week, while Chinese airlines operated 76 direct round-trip flights, according to Cirium flight schedule data.

However, COVID-19 restrictions have reduced these numbers by almost 90%. Since then, Beijing’s zero-COVID policy and Canadian restrictions on Chinese carriers have limited flights to just six weekly round trips with no direct connections to Beijing, which the Canadian Transportation Agency lifted last week.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed optimism about Canada’s decision, encouraging Ottawa to maintain favorable conditions for personnel exchanges between the two countries.

Despite improved transportation links, Canadian carriers continue to be at a disadvantage due to restricted access to Russian airspace, imposed after the war in Ukraine.

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

Bilateral relations between Canada and China, strained since 2018 following the arrest of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou and the subsequent arrests of two Canadians in China, remain difficult.

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

Chioma Kalu

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