Mayor Naheed Nenshi speaks at a ceremony celebrating the inaugural Hainan Airlines flight between Calgary and Beijing. Regular air service between Calgary and Beijing began Thursday as the inaugural Hainan Airlines flight between the Canadian and Chinese cities took off. Mayor Naheed Nenshi said it's fitting for the Chinese airline to bring regular service to Calgary, in particular. "Non-stop service between Calgary and Beijing is now a reality; it's no longer a plan." Hainan will offer flights three times a week between Beijing and Calgary, in what the airport authority has described as a "crucial" move for the local economy.

Source: CBC News June 30, 2016 21:56 UTC