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)
