Air China and Air Canada sign first China-North America airline joint venture – Quantum Aviation | Airline Passengers & Cargo Sales and Charters

Air China and Air Canada sign first China-North America airline joint venture

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Air China and Air Canada sign first China-North America airline joint venture

Air Canada - Air China Joint Venture Signing Ceremony & Press Conference - Beijing 2018.6.6 (CNW Group/Air Canada)

On June 6, 2018 at a ceremony in Beijing attended by Jianjiang Cai, Chairman of Air China; Zhiyong Song, President of Air China; and Calin Rovinescu, President & Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada, Air China and Air Canada signed the first joint venture agreement between a Chinese and North American airline, deepening the two carriers’ longstanding partnership. The joint venture enables the two countries’ flag carriers and Star Alliance members to expand their existing codeshare relationship and deepen it by increasing commercial cooperation on flights between Canada and China and on key connecting domestic flights in both countries to provide customers travelling between the two countries with greater and sustainable benefits including an unparalleled range of flights, products and services.

As the joint venture is phased in over the course of the next six months, customers will be able to enjoy exceptional travel options through , It will also enabe us to bring flexible flight choices, favorable fare products and seamless travel experiences, optimized flight schedules, harmonized fare products, joint sales including corporate and marketing programs, aligned frequent flyer privileges, reciprocal lounge access and an overall enhanced travel experience.

The carriers’ recently expanded code-share, effective May 5, 2018, increases the number of Canada–China connecting flight opportunities for customers by 564 each day. In December 2017, Air China and Air Canada implemented an expanded reciprocal lounge agreement for customers and introduced the airlines’ first joint frequent flyer promotion for their respective PhoenixMiles and Aeroplan members.

In the last two years, Air China has launched flights directly linking Beijing with Montreal, and Air Canada has launched new non-stop flights between Montreal and Shanghai to meet growth in demand. The two carriers now operate up to a total of 52 trans-Pacific flights per week between Canada and China from Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal to and from Beijing and Shanghai.