LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Business and leisure travelers can now book their trip to Beijing and beyond from Houston. Scheduled to start on July 11, 2013, Air China’s new service between Houston and Beijing was approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation on January 17, 2013.
“The speed that the United States Department of Transportation approved this new route speaks a great deal of the value of the Beijing to Houston connection. Our 30-year partnership with China is a strong foundation to build Air China’s new route to Beijing, which enhances the business opportunities of more than 500 Houston enterprises that today work closely with China,” said Houston Mayor Annise Parker.
Starting with four flights a week, the nonstop flight is scheduled to depart Beijing at 3:00 p.m. local time and arrives at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) the same day at 3:40 p.m. local time. For the outbound departure, the Air China flight is scheduled to depart Houston at 1:30 a.m. the next day, arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at 5:00 a.m. the following day.
As the only airline with nonstop service from Houston and the south central region of the United States, Air China’s convenient connections to Beijing, other fascinating cities in China and Asia offer travelers the most time-efficient way of reaching their destinations.
“Using the new-generation fuel-efficient Boeing 777-300ER for the Houston-Beijing route provides our guests the maximum comfort on a long-haul flight. I’m sure our premium passengers will appreciate their luxury suites in the Forbidden Pavilion (first class) and the full-flat bed seats in the Capital Pavilion (business class). Our guests in the economy cabin will certainly enjoy the individual TV screens and in-seat audio-video on demand (AVOD),” Dr. Zhihang Chi, Air China’s Vice President and General Manager for North America, stated.
Houston Airport System is moving forward on its intended plan of scheduled improvements to Terminal D to enhance the customer experience for international travelers. Houston continues to serve as a role model for other airports in its innovation in excellent facilitation of international visitors in a state-of-the-art Federal Inspection Services facility.
“The impact of this new service for Intercontinental Airport can be measured with 1,200 new passenger seats each week and more than 400,000 seats in the annual capacity for direct service to Beijing with Houston as the new global gateway to mainland China,” said Mario C. Diaz, director of the Houston Airport System. “As the Houston Airport System celebrates the addition of Air China to Terminal D operations, we are confident the international community will embrace this new direct route to the Far East and we are hopeful to see it strengthen the business and cultural ties that already exist between our two great cities.”
Houston will be Air China’s fifth gateway in North America in addition to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver. China’s national flag carrier continues its investment in the Americas with new nonstop services, product upgrades and increase in flight frequencies.
Watch footage of the Air China Boeing 777-300ER on www.YouTube.com/AirChinaNA
About Air China
Air China operates a fleet of 432 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Its robust network of 289 routes extends throughout Asia, the Middle East, Europe, South and North America from its main hub at Beijing Capital International Airport where it offers unrivaled connections to cities within China and beyond. As a Star Alliance member, Air China has within its reach 1,356 destinations in 193 countries. Visit www.airchina.us or call Air China’s North America Call Center at 800-882-8122 for more information.
About Houston Airports
The Houston Airport System served 50 million passengers in 2012. Houston's three airports, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby (HOU) and Ellington Airport (EFD) contribute $27.5 billion to the regional economy. Visit www.fly2houston.com and follow us @HobbyAirport and @IAH.