Apr. 15, San Francisco (People's Daily Online)-- Hainan Airlines held a reception on Wednesday in San Jose City Hall to celebrate its launching of the first ever nonstop flight between Beijing and Silicon Valley in June.

Hainan Airlines applied to the Department of Transportation to begin its service in January. And the federal department approved its bid to offer five-day-a-week service from San Jose International Airport to China's capital Beijing in February.

Putin Liang, managing director of Hainan Airlines North America said that the new flight would be the first nonstop flight linking Silicon Valley and China, also the second nonstop flights from Silicon to Asia, when the flight starts its services on June 15th this year.

Xia Xiang, economic and commercial counselor from the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco said, “It has been our long wishes that there will be director connection between China and San Jose since San Jose is the hub for Silicon Valley.” He stated that China and the United States enjoy closer connections in all areas. And local cooperation between the two sides is underway. During last year, there were 12 direct flights opened between the two countries, which is unprecedented.

Mr. Xia said “This direct flight is just bridge between history and technology.”

The new flight is also welcomed by Sam Liccardo, mayor of the San Jose city. He said at the celebration ceremony that the launch of the new flight will bring more opportunities to both Chia and the Silicon Valley. “This will be enthusiastically supported not just by Silicon Valley companies, but also the hundreds of thousands of residents who routinely travel to Asia," he said. "There are 220,000 people in our valley who consider themselves to be of Chinese ethnicity. Over 500 of our companies are located somewhere in China.” That’s the remark he made last month after the flight was approved.

As local communities and government hail Hainan Airlines new offer and see the flight as a major boost for local economy, some others think that since Hainan Airlines is not part of an alliance system, meaning passengers won't be able to use their United miles, for instance, to book a Hainan flight, it will be hard to attract travelers.

While Putin Liang said, “I am quite sure the competitiveness of Hainan Airlines will be attraction for the travelers from both sides.”

It's introduced that the Skytrax five-star airline will operate two-class Boeing 787 Dreamliners between San Jose and Beijing five days a week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with early afternoon departure times. 

Seat configuration on the Boeing 787 is 36 in business class and 177 in economy. Flights will depart SJC at 1:10 p.m. and arrive in Beijing at 5:30 p.m. the next day. They leave Beijing at 3:40 p.m. local time, arriving in San Jose at 11:10 a.m. on the same day.