Kelowna 
Canada is opening up the skies between Ottawa and Beijing.
CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced Monday that more direct flights will now be allowed between Canada and China, for both passengers and cargo.
The move follows Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to Beijing earlier this year and is part of what the government is calling the Canada-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Roadmap, essentially a framework for rebuilding the two countries’ economic ties.
So what’s actually changing? Airlines on both sides can now:
Increase direct passenger flights gradually over time, add up to 20 all-cargo flights per week, and provide reciprocal access to all points within each other’s country.
MacKinnon framed it as a win for everyday travellers and businesses alike, saying it gives Canadians more choices while growing commercial ties with China.
Canada has a stated goal of increasing exports to China by 50%, and more air connections, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu argued, directly support that. Canadian exporters need reliable routes to move goods, and cargo flights are a big part of that equation.
China is Canada’s second-largest single-country merchandise trading partner. In 2025 alone, two-way trade between the two countries hit $124.8 billion. Canada exported $34.1 billion worth of goods to China, while importing $90.6 billion.
Canada currently holds air transport agreements with more than 125 countries, and the government says it’s continuing to expand that network.
