(SAN JOSE) KRON — Mineta San Jose International Airport is rolling out its first-ever direct flights connecting the San Jose, Silicon Valley region to China, airport officials said.
The new service is being provided by Hainan Airlines which launched its inaugural non-stop route from San Jose to Beijing on Monday.
The move is expected to create 52 jobs in San Jose. The flight’s overall economic impact for the region is estimated at $105 million annually, according to airport officials.
“China is pursuing quality economic growth that’s partly driven by the development of the internet industry. The new route can surely facilitate the industry communication for entrepreneurs from Beijing and Silicon Valley,” said Mou Weigang, vice chair of Hainan Airlines.
Airport officials say the Chinese carrier will provide the new service using a 213-seat Boeing 787 Dreamliner for five round-trip flights per week.