China Eastern is now flying directly between Nanjing, China (NKG), and Vancouver, Canada (YVR). The service is offered three times a week between Nanjing Lukou International Airport and Vancouver International Airport.

The service is the airline’s latest direct route to Vancouver; its first daily service from Shanghai began in 2004. Along with its Shanghai flights, the new service will carry on to Kunming (KMG).

“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 Teresa Wat, minister of international trade and Asia Pacific strategy and multiculturalism, British Columbia. “It will also help us build on the memorandum of understanding between British Columbia and Jiangsu provincial government aimed at strengthening trade ties and growing the technology sector in both provinces.”

The new route will play a major role in boosting tourism, business and trade opportunities between British Columbia and the Jiangsu province.

An Airbus A330-200 will service the route, with flights Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The flight departs Nanjing 2:00 p.m. and arrives in Vancouver that morning at 8:30 a.m. The return departs Vancouver at 10:30 a.m. and arrives the following day at 2:55 p.m.

“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, president and chief executive officer, YVR. “This is another exciting first for YVR — offering passengers the only non-stop access to Nanjing in all of Canada.”