Hainan Airlines today launched the first of three new direct routes between the U.S. and Mainland China, part of the airline’s large-scale expansion of its service in North America. Hainan is inaugurating service between Silicon Valley (SJC) and Beijing on June 15, between Boston’s Logan International Airport and Shanghai-Pudong on June 20, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Shanghai-Pudong on June 22.

The Silicon Valley and Boston routes will be flown by Boeing 787 Dreamliners, making Hainan the airline with the most nonstop 787 Dreamliner routes between China and North America.

Hainan currently offers daily non-stop service between Beijing and Seattle, Boston and Chicago. Hainan first launched U.S. service in 2008 with non-stop flights between Seattle and Beijing.

“Since we began our Beijing-Seattle route, hundreds of thousands of people have experienced the award-winning service and elite experience Hainan Airlines provides our travelers,” said Hou Wei, vice president of Hainan.

“With expanding trade, stronger bilateral ties, and now reciprocal ten-year visas between China and the United States, this market is continuing to grow, and Hainan is making a long-term commitment to our customers in China and the U.S.”

Hainan Airlines is Mainland China’s largest independent airline, and is the only Mainland Chinese airline with a perfect five-star rating from Skytrax, the international airline ratings agency, four years in a row. Recently, Hainan acknowledged an order of 30 new 787-9 Dreamliners was in process.

“These new flights will provide non-stop service for many customers who, until now, have not been able to fly directly to China from their home airports,” said Mr. Mu Weigang, deputy chairman of Hainan.

“This is the first direct flight from San Jose to Mainland China, and Hainan provides the only non-stop service between Boston and China.

It is our priority to serve communities that otherwise would not have direct access to China, and we are proud to use state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliners to do so.”

Hainan Airlines, www.hainanairlines.com