China Eastern Opens up Access to Nanjing

YVR offers only service to Nanjing from Canada

RICHMOND, BC, Dec. 20, 2016 /CNW/ - Today, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) celebrated the inaugural flight of China Eastern's non-stop service to Nanjing, China. This new year-round service will operate three times weekly to Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG).

"We want to thank our long-standing partner, China Eastern, for choosing YVR to introduce this new connection between Vancouver and Nanjing, a renowned Chinese historical epicenter and a key economic hub," said Craig Richmond, YVR's President & CEO. "This is another exciting first for YVR—offering passengers the only non-stop access to Nanjing in all of Canada."

China Eastern Airlines has been operating at YVR for the past 12 years after launching daily service to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) in 2004. In 2015, they added new direct service to Kunming—one of China's key connecting hubs as a tag onwards from Shanghai. The new service will fly non-stop to Nanjing and then carry on to Kunming. This new offering will further connect YVR's passengers with China Eastern's network, which includes 128 connections in China.

"As we expand our trade network into China's mid-sized cities, direct transportation connections like this one will play a major role in driving two-way trade and partnerships," said the Honourable Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade and Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism, Province of British Columbia. "It will also help us build on the MOU between B.C. and the Jiangsu Provincial government aimed at strengthening trade ties and growing the technology sector in both provinces."

In addition to strengthening business and trade ties as well as tourism opportunities between China and Canada, this route has a positive impact on the local economy. The service will create more than 162 jobs at YVR and throughout British Columbia and will add an additional $9.5 million in Gross Domestic Product, $1.8 million in taxes and $3.2 million in wages.

The new service will operate using an Airbus A330-200 on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, arriving at YVR at 8:30 a.m. and leaving at 10:30 a.m. New services such as this are made possible thanks to YVR's new five-year airline rates and charges program, ConnectYVR. The program provides a highly competitive rate structure and includes rates lower than any other major airport in Canada and competing US airports.

ABOUT VANCOUVER AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Vancouver Airport Authority is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that manages Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Canada's second busiest airport, YVR served more than 20.3 million passengers in 2015. Fifty-four airlines serve YVR, connecting people and businesses to more than 120 non-stop destinations worldwide. In 2016, YVR received CAPA Centre for Aviation's prestigious Airport of the Year Award and was voted Best Airport in North America for the seventh consecutive year in the Skytrax World Airport Awards. Vancouver Airport Authority is a dedicated community partner and in 2015 donated more than $900,000 to local organizations. We are committed to creating an airport that British Columbia can be proud of: a premier global gateway, local economic generator and community contributor. For more information, please visit www.yvr.ca.

SOURCE Vancouver Airport Authority

For further information: YVR Media Relations, [e-mail], 604-880-9815, @yvrairport