Air China is giving its non-stop flights between Beijing Capital Airport and Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport a frequency boost this summer season that will see daily flights operate on the route starting March 31.
China’s flag carrier now flies between the two capitals four times a week, with no flights out of Beijing on Wednesdays, Fridays or Sundays, the airline’s online schedule shows. From March 10, however, there will be a fifth weekly service on Sundays, followed by flights on Wednesdays and Fridays from the end of March. The daily flights are due to run until October 26.
Below is the schedule for the service from March 31 onwards:
| Flight No. | From | To | Departs | Arrives | Days |
| CA817 | Beijing (PEK) | Washington (IAD) | 1245 | 1405 | Daily |
| CA818 | Washington (IAD) | Beijing (PEK) | 1605 | 1805+1 | Daily |
Air China flies its Boeing 777-300ER on its Washington DC route – and, fortunately for premium travellers, this is one configured with a first class cabin. Eight seats, which are all individual suites, are laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration are available in the first class section.
This is in contrast to the business class cabin, which is laid out in a 2-2-2 configuration that restricts direct aisle access to passengers seated by the windows.
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific has previously reviewed Air China’s International Business Lounge at Beijing Capital Airport’s Terminal 3.
Lounge review: Air China International Business Lounge, Beijing
Alongside the Washington DC boost, Air China will be ramping up frequency on another of its long-haul international routes on the same day: Beijing-London. The route is set to go triple daily.
Air China also began flying its newest aircraft, the Airbus A350-900, on its Beijing-London service at the beginning of February.