Canada-China flight expansion faces airline reluctance amid geopolitical tensions

Canada's initiative to restore its diplomatic and economic relations with China faces a major hurdle: the lack of direct flights. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced that Ottawa has permitted an 'incremental increase' in direct passenger combination flights to China, in addition to allowing up to 20 cargo flights weekly. Nevertheless, airlines are reluctant to introduce new routes due to high jet fuel prices and limited access to Russian airspace, stemming from the ongoing war in Ukraine. This strategy seeks to leverage the growing interest of Chinese tourists in visiting Canada, as Fliggy, a prominent travel platform owned by Alibaba Group, notes a consistent rise in bookings for cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Ottawa. Despite increasing demand for tourism, the absence of direct flights poses a significant challenge to Canada’s efforts to strengthen ties with Beijing.