Chinese tourists set to surge by 70% in Malaysia as Air China returns to Kuala Lumpur's airport
The number of Chinese tourists heading to Malaysia is set to surge by 70% following the return of Air China to Kuala Lumpur International airport, coupled with the introduction of visa exemptions this month for Chinese visitors.  Malaysia is already one of the top three Southeast Asia destinations for Chinese travellers, alongside Singapore and Bangkok.  

Air China starts Newark-Beijing direct service Updated: 2015-10-27 10:27 By Hong Xiao in New York(China Daily USA)

National carrier says it's responding to growing demand

China's national carrier, Air China Ltd, launched a new four-time weekly nonstop service between Beijing and Newark at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Monday.

The service is operated with the airlines' new-generation three-cabin Boeing 777-300ER and will complement the carrier's twice daily service to Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) from JFK International in New York.

From left: Xue Yaping, director of China National Tourist Office in New York; Richard Heslin, general manager of Newark Liberty International Airport; Cheng Lei, China's acting consul general in New York; Gwen Moten, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Arts, Cultural Development and Tourism of the City of Newark; Chi Zhihang, president and general manager of North America for Air China; and Mildred C. Crump, council president of the City of Newark; pose for group photo at the ceremony celebrating the launch of air China's new service from Beijing to Newark at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Monday. Hong Xiao / For China Daily

"The new Beijing-Newark service is our response to the growing demand from the New York metropolitan area to China and beyond. Transpacific travelers from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will benefit greatly from this increase in connectivity," said Zhou Yuelong, Air China general manager.

"With our robust network and convenient connections to cities in China and Asia from our Beijing hub, our passengers will appreciate the options and flexibility our new Newark-Beijing service offers," Zhou added.

Cheng Lei, China's acting consul general in New York, said that in 2014 alone, the number of mutual visits between China and the US hit a record high of 4.3 million. Put another way, there were 12,000 people traveling across the Pacific Ocean daily.

"Naturally, travel means more than the word itself. It means enhancing mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries and learning each other's culture," Cheng said.

Xue Yaping, director of the China National Tourist Office in New York, said that China-US tourism has recorded more than 25 million trips between the two nations at an average annual growth of 7.6 percent since 2007.

"This year marks an important year for the China-US relationship," Xue said. During President Xi's recent state visit to the US, 2016 was officially named the year of China-US tourism.

"I hope Air China can continue to bring more benefit to the cooperation on tourism between the two countries," Xue said

Air China is now the only airline with nonstop service between New York and Beijing. It is also the only Chinese carrier serving Newark Liberty International Airport.

By the end of 2015, Air China will have nonstop service between Beijing and nine gateways in North America: New York, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Washington Dulles, Honolulu, Vancouver and Montreal. Its 323 passenger routes reach 162 cities in 32 countries across the globe.

As China's exclusive national carrier, Air China is the only airline with the privilege of having the Chinese flag emblazoned on its carriers. In addition to its commercial operations, it also provides special flight services for China's senior government officials on state visits abroad.

xiaohong@chinadailyusa.com