Dignitaries and top government officials led by the Chinese ambassador to Canada Luo Zhaohui and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre welcomed the arrival of Air China’s inaugural flight, CA 879, from Beijing this week. Quebec’s Minister of Trade and Commerce and his delegation returned to Montreal from their trade mission on board the first Beijing-Montreal flight. Minister Jacques Daoust also spoke at the press conference. Operated by Air China’s new-generation B777-300ER, the new thrice weekly nonstop service connects Montreal not only to Beijing but also to the rest of Asia.