China's leading international airline Air China, today announced the first and only direct flight from Milano Malpensa to Beijing International Airport, to begin operation from 15 June 2011 The service will run three direct flights a week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday departing at 9 p.m. and arriving at 7 p.m.Milan, 11 May 2011 – China's leading international airline Air China, today announced the first and only direct flight from Milano Malpensa to Beijing International Airport, to begin operation from 15 June 2011 The service will run three direct flights a week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday departing at 9 p.m. and arriving at 7 p.m. The route will be operated using Airbus A330s which offer 206 economy class and 34 business class seats, comfortable new furnishings and video on demand entertainment for all passengers. To mark the inauguration of the direct Milan - Beijing flight, a special reduced fare starting from €300 + taxes will be available from 15 June to 30 July 2011. 'With this new route, which we hope will soon add more flights to respond to the steadily growing demand, Italy becomes Air China's second busiest hub, ahead of the United Kingdom and France,' stated Them Jiang, Managing Director of Air China Europe. 'The new route represents just the first phase in an evolving strategy that places Italy and its business potential in the European market at its centre. Our aim is to offer a competitively priced product with an emphasis on security and quality service, and above all to become a vital link between Europe and the rest of the world. Our motto is Carrying China... Connecting the World. 'We are particularly happy about the new daily direct flight from Milano Malpensa to Beijing in partnership with China's leading airline' said Giuseppe Bonomi, President SEA. 'This connection will reinforce ties between Italy, where the north-west alone provides around 50% of the country's exports to China, and one of the world's fastest growing economies. Malpensa confirms its leadership in connections to Asia with the introduction of this flight facilitated by a commercial policy that has delivered excellent results. Today Malpensa connects to 180 destinations, including 97 non-European cities and involving 110 airlines.' Air China links 14 major European cities to China with onward connections to all areas of the Far East and South East Asia as far as Australia. Its European head offices in Frankfurt control 24 offices across Europe, among which London, Paris, Madrid, Vienna, Stockholm, Moscow, Rome and Milan. It is China's number one airline for number of passengers and volume of goods carried and related services. In 2010, Air China carried more than 1.3 million passengers from Europe alone, with an average loading factor of 77% and earnings of €480 million, demonstrating the solidity of its European business. From June, Air China will operate a total 30 weekly direct connections between Italy and China: 14 Rome Fiumicino - Beijing International Airport; 10 Milano Malpensa - Shanghai Pudong; 6 Milano Malpensa – Beijing International Airport.For VIP passengers travelling on international routes Air China offers free transfer from the centre of the capital to Terminal 3 of Beijing International Airport. Here passengers from all over the world can enjoy spacious areas meticulously furnished for relaxation or work in a welcoming atmosphere and an elegant, modern and functional environment. AIR CHINA Air China is the flagship Chinese airline and provides special flights for government representatives travelling abroad or foreign dignitaries and heads of state visiting China. Its head offices are at Beijing International Airport Terminal 3. The corporate logo of Air China is the Phoenix, the magnificent bird with magical powers, bearer of peace and happiness and well wishes for the future. In 2007 Air China joined the Star Alliance, the world's biggest airline grouping, with whom it offers a high quality service to passengers from everywhere in the globe through 6000 weekly flights from Beijing. In 2008 Air China was the official partner of the Beijing Olympic Games; in 2010 it was central to numerous initiatives and projects relating to the Shanghai Expo and is currently preparing to provide top services for Expo 2015 in Milan.With a fleet of 287 Boeing and Airbus aircraft the airline operates a global network of 259 flights – of which 158 domestic, 94 international and 7 regional - connecting 30 different countries from Chain's main Beijing hub. SEA SEA is an airport operator responsible for managing Linate and Malpensa 1 and 2. All its activities are governed by the regulations laid down by the aviation control bodies. It provides centralised airport services such as airport coordination, IT systems and public information in accordance with instructions from the airlines, security and surveillance, and retail services through third party franchising.SEA also designs and constructs new airport infrastructure and buildings and is responsible for their maintenance.SEA Handling is 100% owned by SEA and provides handling services to airlines such as: ticketing, check-in, boarding / disembarkation of passengers, lost & found, special passenger assistance, loading / offloading of baggage, goods and mail, aircraft cleaning and various essential ground services. SEA Handling operates in a free market for landside services.