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Hub-to-China Flights Could Begin In ’09

By Casey Ross
December 11, 2007

Non-stop flights from Boston to Beijing could begin as soon as the summer of 2009 under a new plan developed during Gov. Deval Patrick’s six-day trade mission to China, officials said yesterday.

Massport CEO Tom Kinton said representatives of Grand China Airlines, the country’s fourth-largest carrier, agreed to seek regulatory approvals needed to begin direct service as soon as possible.

If approved, the flight would mean Boston residents could travel directly to China within 13 hours.

“These (airline) routes are highly sought-after and very competitive,” Kinton said. “I think Massachusetts has a very strong sales pitch, so we hope (Chinese officials) within the next couple of weeks will bring good news and award the route to Grand China Airlines.”

The joint effort to establish a direct flight was the most significant benefit of the China trip, but Patrick said progress was made on several fronts.

The medical firm Organogenesis, based in Canton, struck a deal with a Shanghai firm to share resources and open the door for exports to China. The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative signed a pact with Chinese officials to establish a fund of up to $200,000 to pay for wind energy research.