OREANDA-NEWS. September 11, 2013. The inaugural flight from Beijing to Chicago by China's Hainan Airlinesarrived today at O'Hare International Airport. Hainan is a brand new international carrier for the Chicago market. Today's flight arrival was celebrated with a water cannon salute on O'Hare's airfield by the Chicago Fire Department and a ribbon cutting ceremony at O'Hare Terminal 5.

" I am pleased to welcome a Hainan's new airline service to Chicago, bringing business and leisure customers while creating jobs and economic opportunity at the airport and throughout the city," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "New international routes will not only have tremendous benefits to the city's economy, but Hainan's new service from Chicago to Beijing will further connect Chicago with China, Asia and the rest of the world."

Hainan's Chicago-Beijing route will initially operate two times weekly on Tuesday and Sunday using a three-class (first, business and economy) 288-seat Airbus A340-600 aircraft. Hainan Airlines Flight 498 will depart Chicago at 3:25 p.m. and arrive in Beijing at 7:05 p.m. the following day. Flight 497 will depart Beijing at 12:35 p.m. and arrive in Chicago at 1:25 p.m. the same day. Flight times are subject to change.

Hainan plans to introduce a B787 Dreamliner on its Chicago-Beijing route beginning November 10, 2013, making it the first international route operated by Hainan's new B787 aircraft and the first transpacific route operated by a B787 from O'Hare. On December 10, 2013, the Chicago-Beijing service is scheduled to increase to four times weekly (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday).

From its Beijing hub, Hainan offers more than 400 weekly flights, including service to more than 60 Chinese cities. At Chicago, passengers will be able to access a wide variety of connections in the U.S. and abroad. Hainan currently has a code share agreement in place with American Airlines.