China Eastern Airlines began operating a flight from Kunming of southwest China's Yunnan Province to Vancouver of Canada on Friday.

The maiden flight, served by an Airbus 330-200 via Shanghai, took off at about 6:40 p.m. in Beijing time from the Kunming Changshui International Airport. It was scheduled to arrive in Vancouver at 7:10 p.m. in local time.

It is the first air route linking the province with North America. It will be operated every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. The flight from Kunming to Vancouver takes 13 hours and 20 minutes, and that from Vancouver to Kunming, 15 hours and 40 minutes.