MONTREAL – Air Canada and Air China have announced an agreement for direct flights between Beijing and Montreal three times a week starting in September.

The flights will be operated by Air China but also sold to travellers through Air Canada (TSX:AC) as the first step of a broader partnership.

Air Canada and Air China eventually plan to secure a revenue-sharing joint venture for flights between China and Canada.

The agreement follows a relationship between the airlines reached in November 2014 which outlined the steps towards building a revenue-sharing relationship.

Both companies expect to begin sharing revenue for the flights in the second half of this year.