China Eastern Airlines is doubling its daily flights between Vancouver and Shanghai.
Vancouver Airport Authority CEO and president Craig Richmond says it’s essential to tap into China's growing middle class.
“There will be 750 million more people in Asia becoming middle class in the next seven years. So, we get a small percentage of that, and you can grow by millions of passengers, which means thousands of jobs"
The increase from one to two daily flights is expected to create 470 jobs.
Premier Christy Clark, who was at the announcement at YVR, hailed the move as a net benefit to B.C.'s fragile economy and a plus for her jobs plan.
She was also asked about the issues that continue crop out surround the ethnic outreach scandal, but brushed off questions.
Clark says John Dyble's report was complete and independent despite him being B.C.'s top civil servant and her deputy minister.
She also wouldn't comment when asked if one of the architects of the strategy, former communications director Brian Bonney, could ever be offered a job with the province or the Liberal party.
