Hawaiian Airlines and Air China signed a codeshare agreement on Thursday that leverages the reach of their respective hubs in Honolulu and Beijing to offer more options and a more streamlined experience for customers traveling to further destinations.

The new partnership takes effect following Hawaiian's launch of its three-times weekly nonstop service to Beijing on Wednesday.

"Following the launch of our inaugural service to Beijing, we are delighted to partner with Air China to extend our network beyond the capital city, giving customers the ability to easily explore additional domestic destinations within China on a single ticket from Honolulu," Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airlines president and CEO, said in a statement. "We also look forward to introducing new customers to our friendly hospitality and the culture, people, and Aloha Spirit of the Hawaiian Islands."

"Air China is dedicated to establishing close relationships with airlines worldwide. We believe the codeshare partnership with Hawaiian Airlines will further extend the networks of both companies, bring convenience to passengers from and around China traveling to the Hawaiian Islands and U.S. Mainland, and to Hawaiian passengers traveling to Beijing and beyond," said Song Zhiyong, CEO of Air China.

Through the partnership, Hawaiian Airlines will place its two-letter "HA" booking code on Air China-operated flights from Beijing to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Shenyang. Likewise, Air China will place its two-letter "CA" booking code on Hawaiian Airlines-operated neighbor island flights from Honolulu to Kahului, Lihu'e, Kona and Hilo.           

Future cooperation between both carriers is expected to include additional codeshare cities in both China and North America. Both Hawaiian Airlines and Air China are also negotiating a reciprocal partnership that will allow their respective frequent flyer members to earn and redeem miles for travel on either carrier.

The partnership is reflective of an increase Chinese tourism to Hawaii. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, visitors from China to the Islands were up 20 percent in 2013 compared to the year before.