China will get its first air link to Serbia next month, when Hainan Airlines launches its new route between Beijing and Belgrade.

Commencing on 15 September 2017, the new long-haul route will be operated twice a week as an extension of the airline’s existing Beijing-Prague route. This follows the granting of fifth freedom right to Chinese airlines, allowing them to operate flights from the Czech Republic.

The new Serbian service will be offered every Monday and Friday aboard Hainan Airlines’ Airbus A330 aircraft, which features flat-bed seats in business class.

This will mark the first time a Chinese airline has flown to Belgrade in 25 years, since the suspension of Air China’s service in 1992, at the time when Serbia still formed part of Yugoslavia.