BEIJING -- Air China will fly the Boeing 747-8, the world's longest aircraft, on the Beijing-New York and Beijing-San Francisco routes beginning in January, the Chinese flagship carrier said on Thursday.

Air China will become the first Asian airline company to use this model of aircraft. Since joining Air China's fleet in early October, the Boeing 747-8 has been in operation on the Beijing-Shanghai and Beijing-Guangzhou routes. It will also be used for the Beijing-Chengdu route starting on Monday.

Air China has ordered 7 Boeing 747-8 aircraft, and the delivery will be finished by the end of 2015, the company said.

With a total length of 76.4 meters, Boeing 747-8 is designed with 365 seats. Its maximum flight range is 14,815 km.

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