Hainan Airlines (Haikou and Beijing) has announced it plans to begin nonstop service from Chicago (O’Hare) to Beijing on September 3, 2013. Hainan is Mainland China’s only certified Skytrax® five-star airline. Service will be operated with two-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft four times a week, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, with departure and arrival times that allow for convenient connections from points throughout the United States. The new flight will complement the carrier’s existing North American service to Beijing from Toronto (Pearson) and Seattle/Tacoma.

Flight 498 will depart Chicago (O’Hare) at 3:30 pm (1530) and arrive in Beijing at 6:40 pm (1840) the following day. Flight 497 will depart Beijing at 1:20 pm (1320) and arrives Chicago at 1:30 pm (1330) the same day due to the International Date Line. Connections to and from points throughout China are also possible. Cargo service will be offered.

Copyright Photo: Karl Cornil. Airbus A330-243 B-6116 (msn 875) climbs away from Brussels.

Hainan Airlines: