Direct flights to link Ireland and Beijing

The forthcoming first direct flight connecting the Chinese mainland and Ireland is expected to boost bilateral tourism.

The Hainan Airlines flight between Beijing and Dublin is scheduled to start operating on June 12. It'll also stop over in Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, for roughly two hours.

This first-ever direct route to the Chinese mainland and the first Irish destination in Hainan Airlines' network is a major achievement, which will prove transformational to the bilateral relationship between China and Ireland, according to Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney.