Air China Honored with the 5th Spain-China Council Foundation Award

BEIJING, April 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Spain-China Council Foundation (La Fundacion Consejo Espana China) recently presented the 5^th Foundation Award to Air China in Madrid, Spain in recognition of the only nonstop service between China and Spain operated by Air China and the contributions that the carrier has been making to the cultural and economic exchanges between the two countries.

Air China Honored with the 5th Spain-China Council Foundation Award

In attendance at the award presenting ceremony were Air China Commercial Committee Chairman Shi Zengqi, Spanish Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, Chinese Ambassador to Spain Zhu Bangzao, and personalities from all walks of life in Madrid. In his impassioned speech, Mr. Shi Zengqi expressed his thanks to the various sectors of Spain and Spain-China Council Foundation for their support to Air China, gave an overview of the carrier's China-Spain operations, and expressed his high hopes for the Spain-China air links in the future. He said, "Air China has always been very much committed to promoting exchanges between China and other countries, especially exchanges between the capital cities of the two countries. On December 10, 2006, Air China started Beijing - Madrid service, becoming the only carrier operating nonstop between Beijing and Madrid. The route's load factor has been above 80 percent for a long time. Flight operations on the route are very encouraging."

Spanish Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo personally presented the award to Mr. Shi. In his speech, he spoke highly of Air China's nonstop service which had greatly facilitated the mutual exchanges in fields of economy, trade, tourism, and culture between the two countries and advanced China-Spain friendship and cooperation.

Air China Beijing - Madrid service CA907/8 is operated four times a week on Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday. Outbound flight departs from Beijing at 00:15 Beijing time and arrives in Madrid at 06:35 local time. The return flight departs from Madrid at 11:25 local time and arrives in Beijing at 04:55 Beijing time the following day. Starting June, an additional flight will be added on Tuesday, bringing the weekly number of flights up to 5. On the route, A330-200 widebody aircraft is used. Onboard, the Business Class is outfitted with full-flat seats; the Economy Class impresses with its ergonomic seats that make journeys less tiring. Personal entertainment system is available in all classes of service.

In addition, Air China will start Beijing - Barcelona service on May 5, 2014, which will be the first nonstop service ever between East Asia and Barcelona. The new service, CA841/2, will be operated four times a week on Monday/Thursday/Friday/Sunday. It will not only spare passengers from Central and Southern Europe bound for Beijing the trouble of having to make transfer, but also offer an additional option to travelers between such cities as Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Manila.