Air Canada and Air China Limited have announced that the airlines will expand their mutual codeshare services and lounge agreement in time for the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism, recognizing the importance of tourism and trade between the two countries. Air Canada and Air China are working toward finalizing their planned joint venture, while satisfying both countries’ applicable regulatory conditions.

 

As a result of the codeshare expansion, Air China will place its code on Air Canada’s new daily Montreal-Shanghai flight, as well as Air Canada’s flights from Vancouver to Victoria, Kelowna, Saskatoon, and Regina.

 

In addition, Air Canada will place its code on Air China’s flights between Beijing and Zhengzhou, Xiamen, Shenzhen and Nanjing as well as Air China’s flight between Montreal-Havana, Cuba.  The expanded codeshare cooperation is planned to come into effect in April 2018, subject to regulatory and government approvals.

 

Currently, Air Canada offers its customers codeshare flights operated by Air China between Beijing and Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Xi’an and Shenyang, and between Montreal and Beijing, and between Vancouver and Beijing. Similarly, Air China offers its customers codeshare flights operated by Air Canada between Vancouver and Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg, and between Montreal and Ottawa, Toronto and Winnipeg, as well as Vancouver and Toronto to and from Beijing and Shanghai.

 

Air Canada operates up to a total of 35 flights per week between Canada and China, from Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal serving Beijing and Shanghai. Air China operates up to 11 flights per week between China and Canada, from Beijing serving Vancouver and Montreal.