China’s fast-expanding HNA Group will launch another flight to the UK this winter, as it continues to develop its long-haul operations.

Two HNA-owned carriers, Hainan Airlines and Tianjin Airlines, currently fly to Manchester and London Gatwick airports respectively. And on 30 October 2017, Beijing Capital Airlines will start flying to London Heathrow.

The new route will operate twice a week (Mondays and Fridays) direct from Qingdao, the port city in China’sShandong province, using an Airbus A330 aircraft. This will mark the first direct connection between London and Qingdao.

Beijing Capital Airlines commenced long-haul operations in 2015 with services to Copenhagen and Madrid. It recently launched flights to Vancouver, marking its entry into North America, and is also planning to start flying to Australia on 30 October. Both the Vancouver and Sydney services operate from Qingdao.