Air China to launch new flights between Shanghai and San Jose

Silicon Valley’s Mineta San Jose International Airport is bracing to welcome yet another flight from an international destination. Chinese regulators have finally approved Air China’s request to launch new flights between Shanghai and San Jose. The airline is planning to conduct thrice weekly flights between the two destinations. After approval from Chinese regulators, the airline is now looking forward to approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation so that the new route can be launched.

The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China said that Air China has been given the go ahead and do the required groundwork for launching the new flights between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Mineta San Jose International Airport.

A spokesperson of Air China said that after the new route is approved by U.S. regulators the service is expected to be launched in June 2016. The airline has indicated that it will serve the route with the help of an Airbus A330 aircraft.

It may be noted that the addition of new flights to Shanghai would be yet another feather to San Jose airport’s cap in a series of new international destinations in its kitty. San Jose city officials had in November last year said that Air Canada would be launching twice daily flights to Vancouver starting from May 2016. Lufthansa, Germany’s flagship carrier and Europe’s largest airline, has also said that it will be launching nonstop flights to Frankfurt this year. The new San Jose-Frankfurt route was to be launched from April 29, but has now been delayed and would be instead launched from July 1.

Media reports said that British Airways is also planning to launch nonstop flights to London starting in May this year. Earlier, Hainan Airlines also launched its first ever nonstop flights services to Beijing last year. Silicon Valley continues to remain one of the most sought after destinations for business travelers.