Travelers journeying from Vancouver to China have a new destination option, thanks to a new partnership between Vancouver International Airport and Hainan Airlines.

The Chinese airline, which now connects Vancouver to Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport via Tianjin Binhai International Airport marks Tianjin’s first connection to North America.

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“We are thrilled to welcome Hainan Airlines to YVR. Coinciding with the Canada-China Year of Tourism, the year-round service will further link Canada to two exciting cities in China,” said Craig Richmond, president and CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority in a press release.

“YVR now has the most Mainland Chinese carriers in North America and, when combined with Air Canada’s existing services to this important market, we are well established as a leading connecting hub between Asia and the Americas.”

The route, which offers 36 business class seats and 177 economy class seats flies twice-weekly.

“As 2018 has been proclaimed the Canada-China Year of Tourism, the launch of this new flight service complements B.C.’s tourism focus in China and further strengthens the economic and cultural ties between our two countries,” said George Chow, B.C. minister of state for trade in a press release.

“Having Hainan Airlines touch down in Vancouver adds more air passenger routes from China to B.C., helping to attract investment, benefiting B.C. businesses and ultimately creating good jobs for people throughout the province.”

Hainan Airlines will depart from YVR at 11:30 a.m. and arrive in Tianjin at 2:15 p.m. (+1), before continuing the journey. The flight then arrives at Shenzhen at 7:45 p.m.

On return, the flight leaves Shenzhen at 7:25 a.m. and arrives in Tianjin at 10:25 a.m. before departing Tianjin and arriving in Vancouver at 9:30 a.m.

