Air China (Beijing) starting on February 11, 2014, will upgrade the assigned aircraft on its Beijing – San Francisco route to the Boeing 777-300 ER. By then, Air China’s entire fleet that it uses to serve its destinations in the continental United States – San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Houston – will have been upgraded to the Boeing 777-300 ER.

According to the airline, the “Boeing 777-300 ER represents the best cabin interior design ever in Air China’s history. The First Class and Business Class are outfitted with 180-degree full-flat seats, and the Economy Class seats are designed from an ergonomic perspective to make passengers feel at ease. All classes of service offer personal power outlets and personal entertainment system.”

The surge in tourist numbers and business traveler numbers in recent years has tremendously ramped up demand on the China-US aviation market. To meet that demand and expand its international presence, Air China is increasing capacity for its US operations by continuously expanding its route network and upgrading aircraft types.

Air China’s Summer 2013 – Spring 2014 schedule features a number of new and upgraded China-US routes, with capacity increasing by 33%. Starting on March 31, 2013, Air China increased its Beijing – New York service to 11 weekly flights, and its Beijing – Los Angeles service to 2 daily flights. On July 11, 2013 Air China commenced Beijing – Houston (Bush Intercontinental) nonstop service, the first ever air links between China and the central and southern regions of the United States. On January 21, 2014 , Air China will start Beijing -Honolulu service and will become the first carrier ever to operate between Beijing and Hawaii.

Copyright Photo: Bernhard Ross/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-39L B-2035 (msn 38674) at Frankfurt wears the special “Smiling China” motif.

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