A new direct flight route connecting Beijing and Oslo was launched on Saturday, with three weekly round-trip flights operated by Hainan Airlines.

The new air route, linking the capitals of China and Norway, operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, providing more convenient access for visitors and fostering greater exchanges across various fields between the two countries.
"The Oslo route makes its maiden flight this Saturday, with three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The flight time is around ten hours. This is currently the only direct flight linking Beijing and Oslo in China," Zhang Naifu, deputy director of Marketing at Hainan Airlines, said during the launch event.
Henning Kristoffersen, commercial counsellor at the Norwegian Embassy in China, highlighted the significance of the new route.
"I think it has great significance. This shortens the distance between our two countries, and I think it will increase very much the traveling both from Norway to China, and of course, Chinese travelers to Norway. So, the exchanges in different areas will only increase, I think," said Kristoffersen.
Oslo, Norway's largest city and capital, is a key political, economic, and cultural hub, housing the country's biggest port, as well as the Norwegian royal family and government. It is also the first Nordic nation to be granted visa-free access to China.
"I think everything is going in the right direction. Visa-free means a lot because the whole process of traveling becomes so much easier. You can [go] quicker through the whole process, but also, in combination with this direct flight, I think that's a massive improvement," said Kristoffersen.
Since last November, China has expanded its visa-free policies, making it easier for visitors from multiple countries to enter the country. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, more than 20 million international visitors have entered China under these policies since last year, a 110 percent increase from the previous year.
The launch of this new direct route is part of a broader trend, as more domestic carriers, including China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines also set to launch new international services.