Air China to Start 747-8I San Francisco Service from May 1

Boeing and Air China celebrated the delivery of the airline's first 747-8 Intercontinental on Sep. 29, 2014

Air China (CA) said Saturday it will start operating its Boeing 747-8I aircraft on Chongqing-Beijing-San Francisco route from May 1, 2015.

The 747-8I will operate the service on a daily basis, replacing the 777-300ER. Flight CA985 is scheduled to take off from Chongqing at 11:00 a.m., stop over in Beijing from 1:35 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and arrive in San Francisco at 11:20 a. m. Flight CA986 is scheduled to depart San Francisco at 1:50 p.m., arrive in Beijing at 5:55 p.m. the next day and return to Chongqing at 11:20 p.m.

Air China's 747-8I features 365 seats in a four-class cabin configuration, including 12 seats in first class, 54 in business class, 66 in premium economy class and 233 in economy class.

The airline has received four out of seven 747-8Is it has ordered, and will take delivery of the rest ones before June 2015.

Air China officially launched its Boeing 747-8I aircraft on the route between Beijing and New York early this month, which is the airline's first 747-8I international service. The airline will continue to expand its international route network using the new airplanes. 

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