How Vancouver became China's aviation hub to the West

There are few pop culture icons better known on both sides of the Pacific than Jackie Chan. The action-movie star's work across US and
Asian film made him an obvious choice to represent Hong Kong Airlines
and fly on the airline's first flight to North America.?????
The Hong Kong-based airline -- as its name suggests -- had its maiden flight to YVR Vancouver International Airport on June 30, its
first destination outside of Asia and Australia.

The carrier's flight is just the latest inaugural flight to YVR from mainland China and Hong Kong. Unlikely as it seems, Vancouver is the
epicenter for the international expansion of Asian carriers.

Geographically blessed
It seems a surprising hub, but consider its geographical advantage -- all its Chinese destinations are closer to Vancouver than to any
other major North American city.

"We have more direct mainland Chinese flights than any other airport in North America or Europe," says YVR CEO Craig Richmond. "To put that
in perspective, our relatively small, 23 million passenger-per-year
airport has more Chinese flights than Heathrow, JFK, Los Angeles or San
Francisco. When I tell people that, they're surprised!"

Cathay Pacific Airways, Air China and Air Canada have linked Vancouver with Hong Kong and China for decades, but over the past few
years, the number of Chinese airlines flying to Canada's West Coast has
exploded.

China Eastern, China Southern, Xiamen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines and Beijing Capital Airlines have started service to YVR from major and
second-tier cities in China.

Hong Kong Airlines, which is mostly owned by Chinese industrial conglomerate HNA Group, joined that growing list on June 30.