YVR is celebrating this week after two major airlines announced intentions to fly into Vancouver.
Virgin Atlantic will launch in May 2012 a new route between Vancouver and London Heathrow enabling up 40,000 customers to fly between the cities.
The four-times a week service will operate throughout the summer period until the end of October.
Vancouver Airport Authority (VAA) president and CEO Larry Berg told how theyve been working for years to bring Virgin to Vancouver.
What this means for British Columbia, and the Metro Vancouver area in particular, is more jobs and increased tourism revenue, Berg said.
It also adds much needed capacity to Europe in the busy summer season.
The second newcomer to Sea Island will be China's Sichuan Airlines, after VAA signed a letter of intent with the goal of starting a new three flights a week service to Vancouver in 2012.
Premier Christy Clark met with Zhang Huiyu, vice general manager for Sichuan Airlines, and Tony Gugliotta, senior vice president marketing and business development for VAA in Guangzhou, China.
The new service would be the company's first foray into North America.
Clark said the move will create jobs, new personal connections and $50 million in additional tourism-related revenue annually between Canada and China."
Before flights can begin, Sichuan Airlines must receive approval from Transport Canada. Just this year China Southern Airlines started flying passengers and cargo from Guangzhou to YVR.
Gugliotta said the new service is an exciting development for YVR and the province."
It demonstrates that B.C. is an attractive destination for Chinese tourists and a favoured partner for new business, he added.
It also highlights the importance of Vancouver International Airport as an economic generator for B.C."
