中国与苏格兰间将开通更多的直飞航班
Following on from the announcement of direct flights between Beijing and Edinburgh, more flights could follow.
继北京至爱丁堡宣布开通直飞航班之后，将出现越来越多的直飞航班。
The suggestions, in various news sources, follow our own report from earlier in March that the capital cities of China and Scotland will be linked directly for the first time after Hainan Airlines revealed plans to launch flights between Edinburgh and Beijing.
The flights will be direct twice a week, and via Dublin at other times.
Potential new flights could include linking either Edinburgh or Glasgow to Shanghai or Hong Kong.
It is understood that officials from the former airport have already held informal discussions with Chinese airlines about these or similar routes.
Interestingly, Chinese airlines have large order books for the latest generation of airliners, including the newest A321 and 737 models.
In certain configurations, these have the range to fly long distances whilst requiring a lower passenger load to break even than on a traditional long haul jet.
The jets could prove extremely useful in linking European cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow to hubs in Western and Central China.
Such flights could provide economic benefits at both ends of the route – however they could also draw connecting traffic away from traditional hubs such as London's Heathrow Airport.