Domestic carrier Hainan Airlines launched a new direct international flight on Saturday connecting Beijing Capital International Airport and Oslo, Norway, serving the only direct passenger route between the two countries.

This is the first direct flight between China and Norway departing from the capital airport following COVID-19. The Haikou, Hainan province-based airline plans to operate three round-trip flights a week, with schedules on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Oslo, the capital and the largest city in Norway, has been the country's political, economic, cultural, transportation center and a major port. The awarding ceremony of the Nobel Peace Prize is also held in Oslo annually.

Hainan Airlines said the launch of the new flights brings a more convenient travel experience for Chinese and Norwegian passengers, allowing more passengers to personally experience the unique cultural charm of the two countries and further promote the sustained and stable development of China-Norway relations.

Henning Kristoffersen, commercial counselor at the Norwegian Embassy in China, said the new flights would build broader bridges for tourism, economic and trade exchanges, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

He said Norway looks forward to more Norwegian tourists and businesses coming to China to seek new opportunities, adding that the country encourages more Chinese companies to invest in Norway and collaborate with Norwegian companies to expand the global market.

Furthermore, Hainan Airlines said it will continue to strengthen building Beijing as a hub and injecting new impetus into the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region through a richer network of routes and high-quality aviation services.