Direct flights to link Beijing and 2 Canadian cities

China and Canada will work to launch direct flights between Beijing and the Canadian cities of Montreal and Calgary, Xinhua learned on Sunday.
The effort is part of an aviation transportation agreement between the two nations, which was signed by head of China's Civil Aviation Administration Li Jiaxiang and Canadian International Trade Minister Ed Fast during an official visit to China by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Both nations welcomed the bilateral commitment to establishing new direct air services between China's capital and the two Canadian cities, according to the aviation agreement.
Non-stop flights, once in service, will save passengers between Beijing and the Canadian cities three to five hours.
Currently, direct air services are available only between Chinese cities and the Canadian cities of Toronto and Vancouver.
Passenger demand for air service between China and Canada has grown rapidly in recent years years.
Since 2010, the number of Chinese tourists to Canada has grown 20 percent on average annually.