MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dignitaries and top government officials led by the Chinese ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Luo Zhaohui and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre welcomed the arrival of Air China’s inaugural flight, CA 879, from Beijing today. Quebec’s Minister of Trade and Commerce and his delegation returned to Montreal from their trade mission on board the first Beijing-Montreal flight. Minister Jacques Daoust also spoke at the press conference.
Operated by Air China’s new-generation B777-300ER, the new thrice weekly nonstop service connects Montreal not only to Beijing but also to the rest of Asia.
Today’s elaborate welcome ceremonies at the Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) showed the importance of this new service. It is expected to boost the local economy and tourism industry in the region. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the total number of trips abroad from China is estimated to have increased by 11 million to 109 million in 2014. China is the largest outbound market since 2012 with a total expenditure of US$ 129 billion in 2013.
“This is a great day for Aéroports de Montréal, a proud moment that we will all remember for a long time to come,” said a beaming James Cherry, the airport authority’s President and CEO, soon after exiting the plane arriving from the Chinese capital. “The direct route between Montréal and Beijing, the very first scheduled transpacific direct link out of Montréal–Trudeau, is a reality at last. China has never been as close as it is today.”
Montreal is the newest in a string of expansions in North America by China’s national carrier. However, it’s only the airline’s second gateway in Canada and the first in more than 20 years after Air China launched its Vancouver service.
“Today we stand on the cusp of history as we become the first airline to connect Montreal, China and Asia directly. We are honored to be the bridge that brings together the people and culture of our two great destinations,” Mr. Wang Yingnian, Air China’s Chief Pilot, said.
“This new service strengthens Air China’s presence in the China-Canada market where there is a robust demand for air travel, especially in Montreal, Canada’s second largest city,” he added.
Featuring state-of-the-art green technology, the B777-300ER delivers better fuel performance and is much quieter than any other aircraft. With a spacious three-cabin interior, ambient lighting and an enhanced entertainment system, the triple seven offers a smooth, comfortable experience. Air China’s B777-300ER features eight luxury suites in the Forbidden Pavilion (first class), 41 fully-flat sleeper seats in the Capital Pavilion (business class) and 259 economy seats with individual TV monitors and in-seat audio-video on demand.
Details of the new Beijing-Montreal service can be found in the chart below.
|
Flight # |
Origin-Destination | Departure* | Arrival* | Frequency | Aircraft | ||||||
| CA 879 | Beijing-Montreal | 13:00* | 13:50* | Tue, Fri, Sun | B777-300ER | ||||||
| CA 880 | Montreal-Beijing | 16:20* | 18:00 +1** | Tue, Fri, Sun | B777-300ER | ||||||
Note: *All times are local. **= Next day. Days of operation and times are subject to seasonal changes.
By the end of 2015, Air China will have nonstop services between Beijing and nine gateways in North America: New York (2x daily); Newark (4x/week; Los Angeles (3x daily); San Francisco (daily); Houston (daily); Washington Dulles (4x/week); Honolulu (3x/week); Vancouver (daily) and Montreal (3x/week).
About Air China
A Star Alliance member and China’s exclusive national carrier, Air China is the only airline with the privilege of having the flag of China painted on the fuselage of its fleet. In addition to its commercial operations, it also provides special flight services for China’s senior government officials on state visits to other countries.
Its 323 passenger routes reach 162 cities in 32 countries. It holds the controlling shares in Air Macau, Shenzhen Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Dalian Airlines, Tibet Airlines, Beijing Airlines and Air China Inner Mongolia Limited. Next to the Swire Group, Air China is the second largest stakeholder of Cathay Pacific Airways.
Visit www.airchina.ca for more information or call 800-882-8122 to book your flight.
About Aéroports de Montréal
Aéroports de Montréal is the local airport authority that has been responsible for the management, operation and development of Montréal–Trudeau and Montréal–Mirabel international airports since 1992. The Corporation employs 650 people at both airports and at head office. ADM has been ISO 14001 certified since 2000 and BOMA BESt certified since 2008.
For further information on Aéroports de Montréal and its operations, please visit our website at www.admtl.com.