China's Hainan Airlines announced Wednesday it would launch direct flights between Beijing and Seattle from June 9 this year.

It is the first time Chinese airliners have used the new China-U.S. air transport rights since China and the United States reached an agreement on revising the 2004 protocol on civil aviation last July.

The new air route has been approved by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) and the Department of Transportation of the United States.

Four flights are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday every week. The flight will leave Beijing at 16:20 and arrive in Seattle at 12:00 local time. It will leave Seattle at 14:00 and arrive in Beijing at 16:35 the next day.

The one-way flight will last for about 11 hours. Airbus A330-200s will be used, offering 36 business class and 186 economy class seats.

Hainan Airlines said it will offer a low price for the tickets, valued at 5,960 yuan (about 839 U.S. dollars) for a round-trip.

Established in 1993, Hainan Airlines is one of the four biggest Chinese airlines.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2008)