Air China, the China-based, state-owned airline company, is offering a new non-stop service from Chengdu, in China, to Frankfurt airport, in Germany.
The new service commences from May 19, 2013, and is intended to help to position Chengdu as an air transportation hub for southwestern China.
Around 62 of the airline’s domestic, international and regional routes currently serve Chengdu. The new Chengdu to Frankfurt service is intended to make it easier for passengers from Europe to travel to the southwest region of China.
The three times weekly service will be operated with an Airbus A330-200 on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. The aircraft features personal Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) in all classes of service, and lie-flat seats in Business Class.
The airline already offers direct services from Frankfurt to Beijing and Shanghai, and it is part of the extensive Star Alliance network, through which it can offer its passengers access to 1,356 destinations in 193 countries and regions.
In May 2012, the airline launched its new service from London Gatwick Airport to Beijing International Airport, which operates four times a week and is intended to expand its services to the city of London. Air China is also offering a fast track immigration service at London Heathrow Airport for its VIP passengers flying from Beijing to the UK.
Air China is currently the 10th largest airline, by fleet size, in the world, with a fleet of 330-200 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, which operate on 289 routes, and serve a total of 143 cities.