China's Sichuan Airlines launches Hangzhou-LA flights

HANGZHOU - China's Sichuan Airlines on Monday started a new flight route, linking the tourist city of Hangzhou with Los Angeles.

Flights will depart Hangzhou for Los Angeles around noon on Mondays and Thursdays. Flight time will range from 12.5 hours to 14.5 hours, sources with Hangzhou airport said.

It is the second American destination, after San Francisco, for Hangzhou airport, which handles nearly 90 international flights a day. In July this year, United Airlines launched its San Francisco-Hangzhou service three times a week.

Hangzhou is one China's best known tourist destinations. The municipal government aims to attract 4.35 million foreign visitors a year by 2020, generating $4 billion in tourism revenue. The city received a publicity boost this September by hosting the G20 Hangzhou summit. The Hangzhou airport authority said it plans to launch Hangzhou-Sydney flights in November, the city's first ever direct air link to Oceania.