Chinese airline Hainan Airlines will launch direct flights between Brussels Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport in the course of 2017. The new direct flight will facilitate existing investment and export opportunities for both countries and also create new ones, Brussels Airport said.

“The non-stop connection between Brussels and Shanghai gives additional growth opportunities to both economies. The distance between the two cities will become smaller, facilitating direct commercial relations and stimulating tourism,” says Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company.

“This is an excellent moment to launch direct flights between Shanghai and Brussels. There is a growing interest from the business communities in both countries. In recent years, Shanghai has become a particularly attractive investment destination due to its significantly improved market position and a flourishing local market. Belgium has had a strong link with Shanghai for many years. Business leaders in both countries are reacting very positively to this new direct connection”, says Sun Jianfeng, lead executive of Hainan Airlines.

Hainan Airlines previously operated a direct flight between Brussels and Shanghai from May 2010 to December 2011 on the occasion of the World Exposition in Shanghai and has now decided to soon launch direct flight on a permanent basis. Further details as to frequency, schedule, type of aircraft and exact launch date will be announced shortly, Hainan said.

Sun and Feist signed a declaration of intent for the new service in the presence of the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel.

The declaration of intent between the two goes an important step further with both partners to collaborate in efforts towards the future daily operation of the routes to both Beijing and Shanghai. Moreover both companies will continue to look at further development opportunities within the HNA Group.