CHENGDU - Sichuan Airlines, a major Chinese carrier, will launch new regular flights to Vancouver in June, the company announced Tuesday.

From June 22, Sichuan Airlines will launch the first flight from Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, to Vancouver, which will be operated three times a week. It will make a stopover in northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang.

It will be the first air route between western China and North America, said Zhang Huiyu, vice general manager of Sichuan Airlines.

Passengers in western China previously had to fly to such cities as Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou first before travelling to North America.

"The flights departing from Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou usually arrive in Vancouver at night, but our new flight will arrive in Vancouver in the morning, making it more convenient for passengers to carry out business activities," according to Zhang.

Chengdu-based Sichuan Airlines now operates more than 130 domestic air routes and 14 international routes.