Society

Air China launches non-stop route to Dusseldorf

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-28 13:43

DUSSELDORF, Germany - Air China, one of China's major airlines, officially launched a direct route from Beijing to Germany's Dusseldorf on Sunday.

The flight CA963 landed at the Dusseldorf International Airport at about 7:00 pm local time (1700GMT).

To welcome its arrival after a long journey, the airport provided two sprinkling trucks to form a water arch above the plane.

At an opening ceremony, the Economy Minister of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) Harry K. Voigtsberger expressed his sincere congratulations toward the start of the flight service.

He said the route would improve the economic ties between NRW and China, a very important economic partner of NRW, where some 680 Chinese enterprises are currently making investment.

"We should celebrate this special moment," He said.

After the ceremony, Voigtsberger will take the first return flight on the route to Beijing with a large business delegation.

Chinese Consul-General in Frankfurt Wen Zhenshun said the opening of the route was "a historic moment for bilateral relations between China and Dusseldorf."

He wished passengers who took the return fight to have a "very safe and comfortable journey."

The current schedule of the flight service is every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

A Thursday service will be added from June.

Dusseldorf is the capital of NRW, Germany's most populous state. It is one of Germany's leading industrial and commercial cities with convenient transportation.