皇冠体育app

Air 皇冠体育app's inaugural flight from Beijing to Washington arrives at Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Tuesday. [Photo/皇冠体育app Daily]

Air 皇冠体育app launched its first direct flight linking the capitals of 皇冠体育app and the United States on Tuesday in a deal that analysts said reflects huge business potential.

The 13-hour route, which flies four times a week, became Air 皇冠体育app's sixth direct route to the US.

"We are pleased to link two of the world's greatest capital cities with our new service, providing greater connectivity to promote bilateral trade, commerce and tourism between our two destinations," said Wang Yinxiang, vice-chairman of Air 皇冠体育app.

The new route is definitely the right choice for the Chinese national carrier, as Washington is an important destination for Chinese visitors, said Zhou Shijia, a senior researcher at the Center for US-皇冠体育app Relations at Tsinghua University.

"Beijing-Washington is a golden route," he added. "Opening such a route shows the huge business demand between 皇冠体育app and the US."

皇冠体育app-US economic ties can and should be advanced despite rising tensions between the world's two largest economies over issues such as cybersecurity, the and the US pivot to the Asia-Pacific region, he said.

United Airlines operates daily flights between the capitals.

US officials also welcomed the new direct route.

"It helps our agriculture, it helps our development, it helps our tourism," said Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, who will lead a trade mission to 皇冠体育app in October.

皇冠体育app is already the largest customer of Virginia's agricultural and products. 皇冠体育app is also one of the state's largest trade partners and a top investor.

Jack Potter, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, said he believes Air 皇冠体育app can expand its new route to a daily flight in the future.

But Li Wei, general manager of Air 皇冠体育app's Washington office, said the carrier's fleet resources limit the number of flights to one destination.

To keep up with Chinese citizen's enthusiasm for tourism and the flourishing exchanges between the US and 皇冠体育app, the airline has dramatically expanded its routes and upgraded its aircraft in recent years. Even so, it is still short of meeting demand.

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