Today, Vancouver International Airport / Aéroport international de Vancouver (YVR) celebrated Beijing Capital Airlines (Capital Airlines) and its new, thrice weekly service between Vancouver and Hangzhou, via Qingdao. Capital Airlines is the sixth mainland Chinese carrier to service YVR—two more than any other airport in North America or Europe.
“I would like to thank Capital Airlines for choosing YVR as its first North American destination,” said Craig Richmond, YVR’s President and CEO. “This new service opens up two amazing new Chinese destinations for all of Canada and is another key milestone in our vision of connecting Asia to the Americas.”
The new service presents exciting new business and tourism opportunities. Located in the central eastern coast of China, Hangzhou is among the country’s seven most ancient cities and is famous for West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has had a profound impact on poets, painters and designers throughout Chinese history. Qingdao, located in northeast China, is a major seaport and industrial centre. In addition to hosting the world’s longest sea bridge, Qingdao is well-known for its diverse economy focused on heavy industry, software, automotive, electronics and banking—and the famous Tsingtao Brewery, the second largest in China.
“The new Vancouver–Qingdao–Hangzhou route will provide more choices and convenience for travellers and will further strengthen economic and cultural ties between Canada and China,” said Mr. Xu Xin, Chairman of Capital Airlines. “Capital Airlines strives to be a leading brand in the international tourism and air travel industry and we are looking forward to working with YVR.”
In addition to strengthening business and tourism opportunities between China and Canada, this route will have a positive impact on the local economy. The new service brings 123 jobs and $6.2 million in GDP to the province of British Columbia and will add $4.2 million in wages and $2.3 million in taxes.
“I’m delighted to celebrate Beijing Capital Airlines’ brand new BC - China connection between Vancouver and the cities of Qingdao and Hangzhou, China,” said the Honourable Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade and Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism, Province of British Columbia. “This new service is an important step in building even closer ties with our neighbours across the Pacific. This flight will attract more tourists and business visitors from these two important Chinese cities while opening doors for Canadian companies and building stronger trade ties with eastern China.”
The new route between YVR and Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) via Qingdao Liuting International Airport (TAO) will be flown on an Airbus 330, with seating for 222 passengers including 36 in business class and 186 in economy. New services such as this are made possible thanks to YVR’s new five-year airline rates and charges program, ConnectYVR. The program provides a highly competitive rate structure and includes rates lower than any other major airport in Canada and competing US airports.