New freighter service launched between China and Canada

China's flag cargo will launch a new freighter service connecting its major city, the gateway city of North Canada and a city in a key oil-producing region in the US.

The new route of Shanghai-Edmonton-Dallas scheduled by Air China Cargo is about to embark on September 3. It will also be the first time for a Chinese cargo airline to offer direct services between Shanghai and Edmonton.

AsCanada's fifth-largest municipality and capital of the state of Alberta, Edmonton known as "the oil capital of Canada", is a key hub forits oil and natural gas industry.

Cooperating with Edmonton International Airport (EIA), Air China Cargo aims that Edmonton will be the carrier's first scheduled freighter destination in Canada. As estimated by EIA, this service will generate a $31 million GDP gain per year for the region.

The route will also expand Air China Cargo's network in North America, besides its other 172 global destinations. Air China Cargo has 1,285 global truck routes in Europe, the US, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, to supplement its air freighter network and to quickly deliver cargo to every corner of the world.

On this new route, the cargo airline will be deploying its brand new Boeing 777F freighter, with service operating every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The Edmonton service will provide shippers with more choices and flexibility, providing an additional express solution for cargo shipments from Canada to Asia-Pacific.

"This will be the first freighter route between Mainland China and Alberta, and is a key step in connecting two economies with high-growth momentum," says Patrick Yu, Air China Cargo Vice-President.

"The market demand for direct cargo services between Asia and Canada has been growing, and our brand new route will help build important trade links between the two regions.""Air China Cargo's investment in EIA greatly expands the Edmonton Metro region and Alberta’s cargo network," says Tom Ruth, EIA President and CEO. "Our energy, manufacturing, agriculture and other industries can now ship goods more efficiently to China and the Asia-Pacific region, expanding our region’s global trade reach."The service will also bring many consumer goods like smart phones, tablets, audio/visual components, fashion merchandise and many other retail products to Edmonton from China, according to EIA.

Since 2012, the investment from Asian countries in Alberta has reached over 30 billion dollars. It is expected that the Air China Cargo service will advance the Edmonton Metro Region’s economi prosperity in a long term.

The new service will also be the only freighter service between Alberta and Texas. It will increases cargo capacity between Alberta and Texas, helping companies move equipment, tools and products between the two energy centers.