Air China successfully finished a polar route test flight from Beijing to New York by using the aircraft B747-400 over the North Pole, from August 16 to 19, sources said with Air China in Beijing Monday.

Air China is the first Chinese airlines to operate Beijing-New York nonstop two-way flights via polar route, which cuts the one-way flying time down to 13 hours from the original 17 hours. In addition, the flight will be more comfortable due to reduced turbulence in the atmosphere above the North Pole, where air flows smoothly. The operation cost will be also reduced owing to the saving in fuel.

The first Beijing-New York polar route flight is scheduled on Sept. 27, with flights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Air China started its Beijing-New York flights back to 20 years ago. In 1998, the route was taken over by the Northwest Airlines when Northwest and Air China generated the code-share cooperation. Air China to resume the flight indicates a closer connection between China and North America and a more convenient air corridor for passengers worldwide.

So far, more than 20 airlines operate 40 polar flights every week.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2002)