Delta greenlighted to begin nonstop flights between Beijing, Seattle

Delta Air Lines announced on Tuesday it received the Chinese government's approval to launch nonstop flights between Seattle and Beijing. The route is scheduled to begin operation on June 4.

The new route will operate five times a week, with flights scheduled everyday except for Tuesday and Thursday. Delta said the route will connect customers from destinations throughout Delta's and codeshare partner Alaska Air Group's network to the Chinese capital.

The route will be serviced with 216-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring 35 business class seats and 181 economy seats.

Delta is currently the world's biggest airline after its 2008 purchase of Northwest. The airline is looking to expand in Asia markets.

The new Seattle-Beijing route is one of two new Asian flights Delta is launching from Seattle this summer. The airline is launching a new nonstop flight between Seattle and Osaka, Japan on June 7.