Air Canada will double its daily Beijing-Vancouver service and increase its Shanghai-Toronto non-stop flights in July, the carrier's Beijing Office said on Sunday.

"These added flights represent an increased capacity of nearly 50 percent for the growing Chinese market, which continues to thrive due to strength in both leisure and business travel," said Daniel Shurz, vice president of Network Planning of Air Canada.

"With these enhancements Air Canada strengthens its position as the carrier with the most frequent flights between China and Vancouver and the only airline with non-stop service from eastern Canada to China."

The added Beijing-Vancouver daily flight will operate between July 2 and October 1, using a 211-seat Boeing 767-300 plane.

Effective on July 1, The Shanghai-Toronto service will increase to daily service starting for the summer peak and continue as a three-day-a-week service for the 2007-2008 winter schedule.

In total, Air Canada will operate five daily non-stops between China and Canada this summer, the most of any airline. Montreal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 150 destinations on five continents.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2007)