Montreal would be Air China's second Canadian destination after Vancouver.

CAPA - Centre for Aviation, in an article entitled 'Air China looks for new long-haul markets after securing stronghold in Europe and the United States', stated (09-Jan-2015) Montreal would be Air China's second Canadian destination after Vancouver. Air China is not able to fly to Toronto as Hainan Airlines secured the rights before Air China. Montreal was one of the destinations on Hainan's wishlist of new routes for 2015. The CAAC has not yet publicly announced the route rights. Canada is a small play in Air China's book: it has approximately 14,100 weekly seats to the United States but only 2220 to Canada. Air China has proposed a JV with Air Canada. The Montreal service could be tagged to Havana in Cuba, Air China's first Caribbean destination. This tag, with a relatively long flight length (2600km) on a large aircraft, would be very costly but there are likely political imperatives as China has a growing role in Cuba. It is not known if Air China would have local pick-up rights on the Montreal-Havana tag, which is unserved. Air Canada and Air Transat offer Havana service from Toronto. [more - CAPA Analysis]