Star Alliance members Air China and Air Canada have revealed they will launch a non-stop flight between Beijing and Montreal that will create the first transpacific direct link between Asia and Montreal. The flights will be operated by Air China starting on September 29, 2015, initially three times a week, with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and Air Canada will place its code on the flights for sale under a codeshare basis in a first phase.

In the second phase, subject to requisite approvals by the relevant competition authorities, Air Canada and Air China intend to form a comprehensive revenue sharing joint venture in respect of all flights between China and Canada, which they say “would ensure the long-term sustainability of the new Beijing-Montreal service”. Seats are now available for purchase.

"We are delighted to announce the planned introduction of the first non-stop service between Beijing and Montreal in September," said Song Zhiyong, president and chief executive officer, Air China.

"This new route to Canada's second largest city will strengthen the links between China and Canada; it will provide travellers with convenient travel options in cooperation with our partner Air Canada whose extensive North American network includes many cities easily served from Montreal throughout Quebec, Atlantic Canada and the United States,” he added.

Air China and Air Canada signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2014 setting out the principles for an integrated revenue sharing joint venture. The MoU provides for an enhanced partnership on routes between China and Canada which is expected to stimulate traffic growth between the two countries and is subject to Air Canada and Air China making the necessary filings, obtaining competition and other regulatory approvals and finalising documentation. The joint venture is expected to come into effect in the second half of this year.

"We look forward to offering customers the first transpacific direct link from Montreal to Asia and developing our partnership with Air China through a joint venture that will provide customers of both carriers additional travel options," said Calin Rovinescu, president and chief executive Officer of Air Canada.

"Non-stop flights between Montreal and Beijing will provide connections to cities throughout China via Air China's main hub in Beijing and complement Air Canada-operated flights from Toronto and Vancouver," he added.

Montreal has been working hard to finalise a link to Beijing and according to James Cherry, president and chief executive officer of Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), the introduction of the direct service “has been a priority” for ADM and will support the city’s push to draw further foreign businesses.

“We are convinced that this first-ever non-stop transpacific route linking Montréal to Asia will be a huge success, with great benefits to the Montréal community in terms of tourism as well as trade and business,” added Cherry.

According to our analysis, below, around 40,000 bi-directional O&D passengers flew between Beijing and Montreal in the past two calendar years.