When the Chinese airline Beijing Capital Airlines lands today at Copenhagen Airport it will be the first time that a Chinese airline has flown directly between Denmark and China.

The direct route between the Danish capital and China is the result of a co-operation between Global Connected, Copenhagen Airport and the Foreign Ministry.

“We are constantly working to expand our commercial relations with the rest of the world,” said Kristian Jensen, the foreign minister.

“So I’m pleased about the new routes to and from China and the possibility of attracting more Chinese tourists with purchasing power and more Chinese investment.”

READ MORE: Chinese tourists flocking to Copenhagen

Benefit to tourism
Initially the Chinese airline will fly about 3,500 Chinese charter guests to Denmark from Beijing and Hangzhou in September and October via the travel agency Caissa, but the route could become a permanent fixture in the future.

According to Thomas Woldbye, the CEO of Copenhagen Airport, the average Chinese tourist spends about two to three times as much money as the average tourist does, so an ‘air bridge’ to China could have a considerable impact of tourism in Denmark.

Anker Boye, the mayor of Odense, concurs.

“HC Andersen is huge in China and the Chinese kids know many of the adventures by heart,” said Boye.

“We also know that Chinese tourists want to experience the authentic environment in HC Andersen’s town of birth, so I can only urge that we get more flights from China. It will beneficial to the whole of Denmark.”