Air China is set to resume flights between Gatwick and Beijing following a break in service over the winter.
The carrier is to run four flights a week during the summer using an Airbus A330 in a two-call configuration with 30 business class seats and 207 in economy.
China’s flagship carrier offers connections to 46 destinations across Asia and Australia in addition to more than 200 in China.
New regulation allows connecting passengers to stay in Beijing for up to 72 hours without the need for a visa.
Air China UK and Ireland general manager Xiaoming Wu said: “There is an increasingly strong demand for air travel between the UK and China’s major cities.
“Last year alone the number of passengers who flew between the two countries exceeded two million and Air China feels that it is now an excellent opportunity to capture good business in such a massive market.
“We trust that together with Air China’s strong network across Asia and Australia, our flights between Gatwick and Beijing will greatly enhance the passenger travel experience as well as benefit the communications and exchanges between people across the two countries.”
Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said: “Air China’s services to Beijing demonstrate that Gatwick can support long-haul routes and make them a success.
“This route provides another essential air link to Beijing, a key high-growth market which offers UK businesses significant trade opportunities alongside the other emerging destinations Gatwick serves – from Vietnam to Russia and the Middle East.”
The airline will operate from Gatwick on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday with fares starting at £621 in economy and £2,355 in business class.