Delta Air Lines announced Tuesday it had received the Chinese government’s approval to begin nonstop flights between Seattle and Beijing on June 4.
The new route will fly five times a week, with flights scheduled everyday except Tuesdays and Thursdays. Delta said the new route would connect Delta and partner airline Alaska Air Group’s customers to the Chinese capital.
The new route will be serviced by 216-seat Boeing 767- 300ER planes that feature 35 business class seats and 181 economy seats.
Delta became the world’s biggest airline after its 2008 purchase of Northwest. The airline has said that it is looking to expand into markets throughout Asia.
The new Seattle-Beijing route is one of two new Asian routes Delta will begin from Seattle this summer. The airline is also set to begin nonstop flights between Seattle and Osaka, Japan on June 7.