Passengers travelling between Israel and China will have a nonstop service available starting next year. On April 28, 2016, Hainan Airlines will begin operating a service three times a week from Tel Aviv International Airport to Beijing.

This new flight will open up Chinese destinations to those traveling from Israel and other parts of the Middle East. In addition to being able to travel to China’s capital city, passengers will also be able to connect to other major airports in the country, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai. This will also make Israel more accessible to Asian travelers, enhancing their economy. It will showcase the area as a business and tourist destination with a variety of short-term rentals that will appeal to both sectors.

Hainan Airlines will operate the service on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a flight time of 9 hours and 30 minutes for the eastbound service and 11 hours for those travelling westbound. Passengers will travel on an Airbus A330, which can accommodate 178 economy travelers and 36 in business class. All passengers can benefit from individual LED touch screens, providing a variety of entertainment choices, and high-quality food options, including Chinese and Western meals. Those connecting to other destinations from Beijing can take advantage of the complimentary lounges, and business travelers can pre-book a courtesy limo service for their arrival.

Hainan is the largest independent airline in China and currently operates 600 routes in the country as well as services to North America, Southeast Asia and Europe.