China's Hainan Airlines, the largest private and the fastest developing Chinese airline, launched the country's first direct flight to Israel. Flight HU7957 took off from Beijing Capital International Airport at 1:55 a.m. on April 28 and reached Tel Aviv at 8:10 a.m. local time.
Hainan Airlines' Beijing-Tel Aviv route will operate three times a week - on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday - using Airbus A330 jets which can carry around 250 passengers.
Xin Di, chair of Hainan Airlines noted that "there has been a long history of friendly exchanges and economic cooperation between the people of Israel and China, and these have grown since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative".
Xin said he expects the direct flight linking China and Israel will foster deeper cooperation between the two countries in trade, science, technology and tourism.
Earlier this month, the two countries signed a 10-year multiple entry visa deal.
Until recently, Israeli tourists and business people who wanted to travel to China were required to obtain a onetime-use visa which only lasted the length of the visitor's stay in the country.
The new visa agreement is expected to facilitate travel between China and Israel, encourage Chinese tourists to visit Israel, and save time and money.
70,000 Israelis visit China every year, compared to 33,000 Chinese who visit Israel. Israel hopes to raise this number to 100,000 in the coming years.