Air China flying high in Hawaii

Air China has launched direct flights between Beijing and Honolulu, the first new route launched by the Chinese airline company in North America in the new year.

About 270 passengers arrived in Honolulu on an Airbus 330-200 aircraft operated by the Beijing-based Air China on Jan 20.

Air China Vice-President and North American General Manager Chi Zhihang said the new route was evidence of increasing exchanges between the US and China.

In the first 11 months of 2013, more than 123,000 Chinese visited Hawaii. The Hawaii Tourism Authority estimated the number will rise to 182,000 in 2014.