The first ever direct flights from Scotland to China will begin in June following an announcement in China this morning.
 
The ground-breaking announcement will see Hainan Airlines flights to Beijing beginning from 12th June, flying 4 weekly on an Airbus A330-300.
 
It’s part of an innovative flight model which links in three capital cities – Beijing, Edinburgh and Dublin.

It marks the successful culmination of Edinburgh Airport’s partnership working with colleagues in China to attract these routes to Scotland in a move which will benefit the country’s economy, culture and tourism.
 
Chief Executive of Edinburgh, Gordon Dewar said:
 
“This is a fantastic day for Edinburgh Airport and for Scotland as we connect Scotland and China for the first time. We are two countries steeped in history and rich in culture, offering new destinations for people from both countries to visit and explore.
 
“Edinburgh is second only to London as the most popular UK destination for Chinese tourists, and we have worked incredibly hard with partners across the city and country to get to this point.
 
“We’ve also worked closely with Hainan Airlines, who must be congratulated for this innovative approach to tie the Celtic capitals of Edinburgh and Dublin into the route and open up these cities to the Chinese market.
 
“This is an incredibly exciting day for the airport, for the city and for the country. Tourism is one of our biggest economic drivers and still has masses of potential to unleash – let’s use this opportunity to drive it forward.”