Beijing-Athens inauguration of first direct service

In the early morning hours on the 30th of September 2017, Air China flight CA 863 landed at Athens International Airport carrying 205 passengers onboard.

This marks the 1st direct service from Beijing to Athens, a long-lasting goal for the airport that finally came true after years of efforts and collaboration with colleagues from the airline and officials from the authorities.

Athens is now connected directly, year-round, with 2 main points in the Far East region, a spectacular development when compared to the lack of direct long haul services to Far East, a year earlier.

Beijing is the 2nd service to Far East, followed by Scoot to Singapore service that started this Summer as well.

CA 863 was welcomed at Athens with a ceremony attended by the ambassador of China in Greece, the Greek Minister of Infrastructure & Development and other high level officials. After landing and while taxiing to the parking position A40 for the ceremony, flight received the welcoming ceremonial water cannon salute. Passengers arrived holding Chinese and Greek flags and to mark the launch of Beijing-Athens flight, Chinese pilots and crew along with Greek and Chinese officials held a banner reading "Congratulations for the successful inaugural direct flight of Air China that connects Beijing to Athens."