Calgary to see weekly Beijing flights in June

Beginning in June, Hainan Airlines will offer flights three times a week between Beijing and Calgary, with the airport authority calling it a 'crucial' move for the local economy.

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Stephan Poirier of the Calgary Airport Authority could hardly contain his excitement at the Friday announcement.

"We know that everyone in Asia [is] dying to come visit our part of the world," Poirier said.

It's the incoming flights, hopefully full of tourists looking to drop some money into the regional economy, that has some excited.

Poirier estimates 60 per cent of the passengers on flights into Calgary could be tourists.

"An influx of inbound tourism is exactly what the city needs right now," he said.

Cindy Ady of Tourism Calgary has unique insight into how flights can drive economic growth.

Ady, in her former role of tourism minister, travelled between Alberta and China many times.

"They're hungry to travel," Ady said.

"Before, when we did not have a direct flight, we were losing a lot."

The current Alberta minister of tourism, Ricardo Miranda, says the new flight could send a message.

"So that we can tell our friends in China we're open for business, that there's going to be flights directly from Beijing to Calgary and give them the opportunity to learn a little bit more about the province and the kinds of things they can see here," he said.

Hainan Airlines says the flight could facilitate a greater connection between the two countries.

"This route will further enhance cross-cultural and economic exchanges between China and Canada, and provide excellent services for our valued passengers," the airline's vice president Hou Wei said in a release.

Initially the flight — which will take about 12 hours — will operate three times a week but could increase to four later in the year.