First Scotland-china flights secured

Scotland’s long-awaited first air route to China has been securedbyedinburghairport, The Scotsman has learned.

Hainan Airlines will fly between the capital and the Chinese capital of Beijing, it is due to be announced today.

The flights will continue to and from Dublin.

An industry source said: “It is a route which the airport has been seeking for a long time.”

Edinburgh has pursued direct Chinese flights for years because of their huge potential for bringing tourists to Scotland and developing business links.

Scottish ministers have described it as a “key priority” for route development.

It follows Edinburgh Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport signing a ground-breaking partnership agreement last May.

A new deal has also been struck between London and Beijing to increase the number of flights permitted between the UK and China, as Scotland on Sunday revealed in December.

It involved an extra 50 flights a week to and from non-london airports being allowed after the UK total increased from 40 to 100 in 2016.