A direct air route between Beijing and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates has been launched, marking the first direct connection between the two capitals operated by a Chinese airline. The inaugural flight, operated by Air China and carrying 278 passengers, landed at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport late Saturday night. The route, operated by a Boeing 787 aircraft with four round trips scheduled each week, marked Air China’s first newly launched international service in 2026. Industry sources noted that the launch of the route will inject fresh momentum into practical cooperation between the two countries under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

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