by Donald Wood
Last updated: 12:36 PM ET, Fri July 20, 2018
Delta Air Lines continued its global expansion this week with the launch of a new nonstop flight connecting Atlanta and Shanghai.
During a ceremony at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta Tuesday, officials from the State of Georgia, the City of Atlanta and Chinese tourism associations gathered to celebrate the launch of the new service connecting two major commercial travel hubs.
Passengers flying on the new route from Atlanta to Shanghai will also be able to book connecting flights to 70 destinations within China as part of Delta's partnership with China Eastern Airlines.
"This was the No. 1 route that local Atlanta travelers have requested and we're thrilled that we're able to launch this flight at the end of the week," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement. "Our new service will help bring our cultures and people together, which is core to our mission of connecting the world."
"This is historic in many ways. It is a further confirmation of the relationship with the state of Georgia and the nation of China," Georgia Governor Nathan Deal said in a statement. "We have had an economic development presence in China since 2007. China has about 101 businesses that are located here in the state of Georgia and we have about 46 or more Georgia businesses that are located in China."
In June, officials celebrated the new route in Shanghai with several special guests, including the Consul General of the United States Consulate in Shanghai, the Vice Chairman of Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration and more.
Delta is growing its Pacific presence through partnerships with China Eastern and Korean Air, as well as with the launch of new routes between Seattle and Osaka, and Minneapolis-St. Paul and Seoul.
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