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Air China returns to Toronto after 33 years with new tw-weekly service

Air China returns to Toronto after 33 years with new tw-weekly service
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Air China | Official Website

Air China is set to resume its Toronto flights after a 33-year hiatus. The return to Canada's largest city will commence on May 20th, as reported by Aeroroutes. The Chinese national carrier's previous operations in Toronto in 1992 involved flights from Beijing, making stops in Shanghai and Vancouver aboard a Boeing 747.

This time, Air China's service will be different, with a twice-weekly schedule on a 777-300ER aircraft, boasting three classes, including a first-class section and 311 seats. Official data indicates that in 2024, over 97,000 round-trip passengers traveled between Beijing and Toronto, most taking indirect routes. Among these, Cathay Pacific, operating through Hong Kong, carried more passengers than any other airline.

Presently, Air Canada's direct Beijing to Toronto flights ended in 2020, though Hainan Airlines reintroduced a weekly service last November. This means Air China will directly compete with Hainan Airlines on this route.

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Air China's flight schedule is as follows, in local times: CA993 from Beijing Capital to Toronto will depart at 12:30 and arrive at 13:10; CA994 from Toronto to Beijing Capital will leave at 16:15 and arrive the next day at 18:15.

Once Air China reinstates its service, Toronto's complement of Asian airlines will expand to 16. This development adds to the diversity of the airport's long-haul flight options, including the introduction of two Airbus A380 operators in Canada for the first time. Etihad will replace its A350-1000 with the larger A380 on its Toronto route, joining Emirates, which has been operating the A380 in Toronto since 2009.

Other airlines serving Toronto will include Air India, Biman Bangladesh, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, China Southern, Emirates, Etihad, EVA Air, Korean Air, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, and Saudia.

Aviation expert and industry commentator criticized PIA's low service frequency to Toronto despite significant passenger numbers from Pakistani cities such as Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. The expert, originally from Pakistan and now based in Canada, commented: "It's for one reason. Stupidity."

Since 2004, a few Asian airlines have withdrawn services to Toronto, including El Al and the now-defunct Jet Airways. The latter operated a notable hub in Brussels and later Amsterdam, connecting several Indian cities with North American destinations, including Toronto, between 2007 and 2019.

Organizations Included in this History
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