Air China successfully finished a polar route test flight from
Beijing to New York by using the aircraft B747-400 over the North
Pole, from August 16 to 19, sources said with Air China in Beijing
Monday.
Air China is the first Chinese airlines to operate Beijing-New York
nonstop two-way flights via polar route, which cuts the one-way
flying time down to 13 hours from the original 17 hours. In
addition, the flight will be more comfortable due to reduced
turbulence in the atmosphere above the North Pole, where air flows
smoothly. The operation cost will be also reduced owing to the
saving in fuel.
The first Beijing-New York polar route flight is scheduled on Sept.
27, with flights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Air China started its Beijing-New York flights back to 20 years
ago. In 1998, the route was taken over by the Northwest Airlines
when Northwest and Air China generated the code-share cooperation.
Air China to resume the flight indicates a closer connection
between China and North America and a more convenient air corridor
for passengers worldwide.
So
far, more than 20 airlines operate 40 polar flights every week.
(Xinhua News
Agency August 19, 2002)