Edinburgh Airport secures Scotland’s first direct China flight

The first direct scheduled flights between Scotland and China have been established, boosting links between the two countries.

From June, Hainan Airlines will run direct return flights between Edinburgh and Beijing twice a week.

Most passengers will be expected to be travelling to Edinburgh for tourism or business.

Two further return flights between the two cities each week will go via Dublin.

The route will fly from Beijing to Dublin and then onto Edinburgh and then back to Beijing on Thursdays and Sundays, flying to Edinburgh and then Dublin and then back to Beijing on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

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.