Update: March 19, 2013 By: Admin

China's Sichuan Airlines begins three-flight-per-week service between Vancouver and Chengdu June 22, 2012, making Vancouver International Air-port the only North American airport with a direct link to booming Sichuan Province.

The new service on Tuesdays, Fri-days and Sundays announced by Sichuan Airlines Friday is expected to transport up to 6,000 passengers per month, while contributing about $5 million to B.C.'s economy annually.

According to provincial tourism numbers provided by YVR, 250,000 Chinese nationals visited Canada over the last 12 months, with most visiting B.C.

YVR also said that the number of Chinese nationals is up 50 per cent since Canada received approved destination status (ADS) from China in December 2009, and that the number of Chinese nationals entering Canada via YVR since then is up 40 per cent.

Friday's announcement will also bring the total number of Chinese air-lines flying to YVR to four, not including Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific. The other airlines are Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, which began flights last year.

"We will possibly increase this to daily flights in the future," said Sichuan Airlines vice-president Zhang Huiyu at a news conference announcing the service at YVR.

"Right now, we just want to focus on Vancouver. We will gradually extend our services to other parts of North America."

He said Canadians travelling to Sichuan province will no longer have to transfer in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou.

He said the new service will accelerate "deep and multi-scope cooperation between Canada and China's western and northeast regions in agriculture, technology, commerce, trade, tourism and education."

According to YVR, Chengdu and Shenyang are important economic, transportation and commercial hubs, with Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, home to 14 million people and the famous giant panda.

Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, has a population of 8.1 million.

The Sichuan service will use an Air-bus 330 aircraft with capacity for 245 passengers.

YVR president and CEO Larry Berg said the new service means more options for both business and tourism.

"It will generate 56 jobs, provide $2.6 million in wages and add $5 mil-lion to the province's gross domestic product annually.

"We're thrilled Sichuan Airlines chose Vancouver. This makes us the only airport in North America with four Chinese mainland carriers."

James Moore, minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, added: "These are big markets that represent great opportunities for Canadians. This is a significant step forward in strengthening ties between China and Canada.

"By 2020, over 100 million Chinese tourists will visit locations around the world. We'll be in a better position to attract them to Canada."

Liu Fei, consul-general for China in Vancouver, said Sichuan Airlines will bring a lot of Chinese tourists to B.C. "There are lots of people travelling between Canada and China. Today, we've issued 400 to 600 visas."

Source: vancouversun