China to Launch Beijing-Tel Aviv Flights

China's Hainan Airlines plans to start flying between Beijing and Tel Aviv three times a week starting in September, reflecting the sharp rise in tourism and trade between Israel and China.

Hainan, China's fourth largest airline, will be competing with El Al and also will fly on Shabbat, when El Al does not operate, and plans to add a fourth flight in the future.

Air passenger traffic between Tel Aviv and China was up by 5 percent in 2014, with 54,000 passengers flying the route.

Tourists traffic from China rose by 36 percent last year.