China's Hainan Airlines announced Wednesday that it would launch a new route from Beijing to Ukraine's capital of Kiev at the beginning of next year.

Zhang Ning, the company's representative in Kiev, told a news briefing that passengers would be able to take a flight between the two cities on Tuesday and Saturday since Feb. 10, 2009.

"Flight frequency would be increased later," he said.

Zhou Li, the Chinese ambassador to Ukraine, said that the opening of the new route will play a positive role in deepening mutual understanding and trust between the two countries and promote bilateral economic cooperation.

The airline would use Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which has 222 seats with 36 business-class seats.

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2008)