China’s Capital Airlines has launched a direct flight service between Beijing and Sri Lanka, with its inaugural flight arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on the afternoon of January 31, marking a significant boost to air connectivity between the two countries.

The first Capital Airlines flight, JD-487, departed from Beijing Daxing International Airport and landed at Katunayake at 1.46 p.m., carrying 170 passengers and 13 crew members. The service is operated using an Airbus A330 aircraft, which was welcomed with a traditional water salute on arrival.

Under the new schedule, Capital Airlines will operate flights to Katunayake every Tuesday and Saturday, arriving at 2.20 p.m., with the return flights departing for Beijing at 4.20 p.m. on the same day. The total flight time is approximately eight hours.

The inaugural flight was received by several dignitaries, including Chinese Deputy Ambassador to Sri Lanka Zhu Yanwei, Katunayake Airport Management Head Aruna Rajapaksa, and other officials.

Authorities said the new service is expected to further enhance tourism, trade, and people-to-people relations between Sri Lanka and China.