Hainan Airlines announced the addition of three weekly nonstop flights between Boston's Logan Airport and Shanghai's Pudong Airport beginning June 20.

The new flight complements the carrier's existing nonstop service between Boston and Beijing, which will increase to daily service on May 1.

The airline will operate two Boeing 787 Dreamliners three days a week on the Shanghai route. The westbound 15-hour flights will depart Boston at 4:25 pm and arrive in Shanghai at 7:35 pm the following day. The 14-hour eastbound return will depart Shanghai at 11:45 am and arrive in Boston at 2:25 pm the same day.

Hainan will partner with JetBlue to provide connections for travelers on the new service from points throughout the US and Canada. Cargo service will also be offered.

"Since we began our Seattle route in June 2008, hundreds of thousands of people have experienced the award-winning service Hainan Airlines provides between the United States and China," said Ji Chun Liu, director of Hainan's international department. "Now we are excited to open a new nonstop route from Boston to the important commercial city of Shanghai. The community of interest and expanding trade between New England and China has grown this market exponentially, enhanced by the new reciprocal 10-year visas between the two countries recently put into place."

"The importance of new international nonstop routes cannot be overstated in howthey enable Massachusetts to engage with the rest of the world," said Massachusetts Gov Charlie Baker. "To be world class you need to be connected with the world and Massachusetts is world class."

"This new route speaks volumes to the great success Hainan has had in Boston since starting nonstop service to Beijing last June," said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn.

The other two new services will be from Silicon Valley to Beijing beginning on June 15, and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Shanghai Pudong starting June 22.

lindadeng@chinadailyusa.com