Hainan Airlines will open its first intercontinental air route from east China, the Shanghai to Brussels route, from May 28, 2010.

This route will be operated using Airbus A330 and will have three flights each week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Flights will leave from Shanghai at 00:10 and will arrive at Brussels at 06:55 local time; return flights will depart at 13:50 local time and arrive Shanghai at 07:00 the following day.

This new route will enable Chinese travelers to take direct flights to Brussels from either Beijing or Shanghai, and to get to 45 cities in European countries and 13 cities in 12 African countries via Brussels.

The first direct flight between China and Belgium, the Beijing to Brussels route, was launched in 2006 and is also operated by Hainan Airlines.