Air China is to restart flights from Gatwick to Beijing for summer 2014 after cancelling the route over this winter.
The airline only started flying from Gatwick in May 2012 and announced in September that it would stop flights over the winter from October 27.
Air China will resume the four-times per week service from Gatwick on March 30, 2014, using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The carrier also operates a year-round daily service from Heathrow to Beijing.
Wang Mingyuan, chairman of Air China’s commercial committee said: “Air China regards London as an important global market, and the economic and tourism prospects for China and the UK are positive.
”We are therefore pleased to reintroduce services to London Gatwick with whom we are developing a good strategic partnership."
The decision is a boost for Gatwick which has lost long-haul routes from other airlines such as US Airways, Korean Air and all-business class airline Hong Kong Airlines in the last 18 months.
Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate said: “Demand between China and the UK is increasing and Gatwick has a very clear role to play in helping the UK remain one of the best connected cities anywhere in the world.
“The Gatwick – Beijing route has proved popular since its inception in May last year and so I am very pleased that Air China has decided to continue operating this service into next summer.”
airchina.co.uk
gatwickairport.com