Air Canada, one of the world's largest airlines, said yesterday it will launch non-stop flights between Beijing and Toronto from June 3.

They will be the first scheduled flight directly connecting China's mainland with eastern Canada.

Air Canada will offer three flights each week in June, increasing to four a week in July.

Flight time from Beijing to Toronto will be 13 hours, while the return journey will take 20 minutes longer.

Cathy Zhu, general manager of Air Canada China, said the launch of non-stop flights will be a milestone for her company's development in the Chinese market.

"The non-stop flight will further strengthen the exchanges of culture and facilitate communication between the people living in eastern Canada and China's mainland," she said.

Zhu added that because of Toronto's unique location it is a natural hub connecting China with the Americas.

The opening of the Beijing to Toronto non-stop flight will provide more destination choices for travellers from China to cities across North and South America, she said.

Air Canada plans to further step up its non-stop passenger service between Toronto and Beijing to daily flights by 2006.

Daily non-stop passenger services between Toronto and Shanghai are planned to run from 2006, and between Vancouver and Guangzhou from 2007.

The Canadian airline also has plans to expand its cargo service in China.

Duncan Dee, senior vice-president of Air Canada's Corporate Affairs Department and chief administrative officer of ACE Aviation Holdings Inc, said China and Canada will realize tremendous opportunities for growth in air transportation for passengers and freight, following the new bilateral air agreement announced by the two governments in April.

From its main hub in Toronto, Air Canada currently operates non-stop flights to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul and Delhi, offering connections to and from points throughout the Americas.

(China Daily May 11, 2005)