The inaugural flight of non-stop service between Canada and China's most populous province, Guangdong, touched down in Vancouver today, widening the gate to a lucrative tourism market. As of today, China Southern Airlines, Asia's premier airline offers three flights per week between Guangzhou and Vancouver.
China Southern president and CEO Tan Wangeng said he was confident Vancouver, a sister city to Guangzhou, would play an important role in the carrier's North American expansion, which would boost economic exchange and trade between the two countries.
He said the carrier's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, to be delivered later this year, would be used on the Guangzhou-Vancouver run.
Currently, the carrier's only other North American destination is Los Angeles.
China Southern is the third Chinese carrier to service the Canadian market, joining Air China and China Eastern Airlines.
China Southern Guangzhou - Vancouver flight carried three shifts a week, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday off, with luxurious wide-body Boeing 777B aircraft to fly. Flights to process CZ329 13:00 Beijing time from Guangzhou Baiyun International to take off, the day arrived at Vancouver International Airport at 10:20 local time; return CZ330 flight took off from Vancouver at 12:00 local time, 14:50 GMT the following day arrived in Guangzhou.
To capitalize on the new route, a partnership of Canada's tourism marketers, including the CTC, Government of BC, Tourism Vancouver and Vancouver Airport Authority, has come together to promote Canada in a big way in Guangzhou. The CTC already actively markets Canada in Beijing and Shanghai.
"The CTC has built strong relationships with Chinese tour operators over the last five years and the new China Southern Airlines route is a great example of progress," says Derek Galpin, CTC's managing director for China. "A 'united Canada' approach is essential to success, and I'm happy to say we're on the right path."
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