China Eastern Airlines on Wednesday launched direct flights between Shanghai and Tbilisi, with its inaugural flight arriving in the Georgian capital that evening.
Flight MU285 departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and landed at Tbilisi International Airport at around 7 p.m. local time after a journey of about 10 hours, carrying 274 passengers, according to He Xiaoqun, vice president of China Eastern Airlines.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the launch of the route, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Georgia-China relations have developed rapidly in recent years and voiced confidence that the direct flights would further strengthen bilateral ties.
Kobakhidze said Georgia regards China as a country that has achieved remarkable success across multiple fields through its consistent policy of peaceful development, modernization and progress, adding that strengthening cooperation with China is vital to Georgia.
Chinese Ambassador to Georgia Zhou Qian said the new route represents another tangible outcome of bilateral cooperation since China and Georgia elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. He noted that the flights would significantly facilitate travel for people in both countries and create new opportunities in tourism, trade and investment.
The Shanghai-Tbilisi route is operated with an Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft and offers three round-trip flights a week, operating on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.