CANADIAN AIRLINES International has become the first carrier to use a newly agreed cross over point between Russian and Chinese airspace, which will cut 2-3h off the flight-time between Vancouver and Beijing. Designated ARGUK, the crossing, lies between Khabarovsk in Russia and Haiqing in China.
Previously, flights had to be routed over Japan and South Korea, to enter Chinese airspace at Shanghai. The new route is much more direct, but takes flights deeper into Russian Far East airspace than previously allowed. To make the new route possible, Canadian and US airlines joined forces to fund English-language training for Russian and Chinese air-traffic controllers.
Canadian's manager, aeronautical services, John Duck, says that the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 revenue-earning flight on 21 April successfully proved the new route. Approval has now been sought from the Canadian, Chinese and Russian authorities to begin regular Vancouver-Beijing flights via the new crossing, starting in May. The airline's next step will be to use the same gateway for more-direct flights from Canada to Hong Kong, he says.
Canadian's DC-10 chief pilot reported no language problems on the proving flight, Duck says. The new Russia-China airspace gateway is expected to benefit other North American airlines seeking more-direct routes to the Far East, he adds.
Source: Flight International
