Air China will launch a nonstop service between Beijing (PEK) and Johannesburg (JNB) on October 29. This route represents the first direct air connection offered by a Chinese carrier between mainland China and South Africa, and it is also Air China’s inaugural scheduled service to the African continent.
The Beijing–Johannesburg flights will operate three times weekly. Departures from Beijing are scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, with return flights from Johannesburg on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Air China will deploy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the route, providing a long-range, widebody configuration suitable for the intercontinental service.
In addition to the Johannesburg launch, Air China is planning to introduce a Beijing–Addis Ababa (ADD) service later this year, further expanding its network into Africa.