Premier Christy Clark was at Vancouver International Airport Wednesday to welcome China Southern Airlines’ inaugural flight from Guangzhou to Vancouver.
The flight arrives a year after China granted Canada approved destination status, which is expected to drive an influx of Chinese tourism in B.C.
The flight is the only nonstop flight to Guangdong, which is China’s most populous province.
The Canadian Tourism Commission believes the new three-times-weekly service between Guangzhou and Vancouver will bring up to 44,000 Chinese travellers to Canada every year, spending up to $72 million in Canada.
China Southern Airlines chairman Si Xian Min is expected to touch down in Vancouver with 50 executives and Chinese government officials on the inaugural flight.
A banquet will then be held to celebrate the occasion.
The non-stop flights will run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Joel McKay