Airline to begin nonstop flights between China and Honolulu

An airline is making plans to begin nonstop flights between China and Honolulu, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said Wednesday.China Eastern Airlines and the state Department of Transportation are working on the flights from Shanghai to Honolulu, HTA Executive Director Mike McCartney said.The new route is an exciting opportunity, as it will be the first regularly scheduled flight between China and Hawaii. The flight will run twice weekly beginning Aug. 9, 2011,McCartney said.

KITV4 News first reported earlier this month that a delegation from China visited Hawaii to meet with Hawaii tourism and state officials to set up a trial period for direct flights.Three charter flights in January brought hundreds of Chinese visitors to Hawaii as an early test.State tourism officials hope to capitalize on a new market.We estimate this new flight will provide up to $60 million in annual visitor expenditures and stimulate new job growth in our islands, McCartney said.Travelers from China normally have to go through Korea or Japan before arriving in the islands. Tour operators say there is a huge market in China, with more than a billion consumers and a burgeoning middle class.