Air China will commence nonstop services between Beijing and Montreal from September 29, 2015. The flights will connect the Chinese capital and Air China’s extensive domestic network, with Canada’s second largest city and an important industrial and commercial hub.

Currently, Air China offers ten flights per week between China and Canada, with additional connectivity through Star Alliance code sharing on Air Canada’s flights between Vancouver and six other selected Canadian cities, including Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

This will be the first direct Asia services for Montreal Airport, Canada’s fourth largest. The three weekly flights will also continue on to Havana, a strategically important destination for the Chinese government, although the airline has not yet been granted pick up rights in Canada.

Three flights, numbered CA879 and CA880, will operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing Beijing at 1300 and arriving in Montreal at 1350 local time. The plane, a Boeing 777-300ER, will return to Beijing later the same day.

Currently, Air China serves seven destinations in North America – New York, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Vancouver and Hawaii – offering over 140 flights per week operated with Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 747-8 aircraft.