Libya's Afriqiyah Airways has started up twice weekly flights between Beijing – its first Asian destination – and the country's capital Tripoli. An Airbus A330 will be used on the route.
The service will operate every Tuesday and Thursday, departing from Tripoli at 10am and arriving in Beijing at 2.30pm (local time). The return flights are on Wednesday and Friday, leaving Beijing at 5.30pm and arriving in Tripoli at 11.30am. Travel time between the two hubs is approximately 12 hours.
Recent years have seen trade between China and Africa grow. Chinese president Hu Jintao has visited the African continent a number of times in search of raw materials as well as to promote Chinese expertise. Countries there, meanwhile, have also been in need of the China's products.
Of the major Chinese airlines, it is currently only China Southern that flies to an African nation, Angola, to its capital Luanda.
Besides Asia, Afriqiyah Airways also operates to points in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
For more details, visit www.afriqiya.aero
Margie T Logarta