THE first direct flight between Scotland and China has touched down at Edinburgh Airport.
The first passengers on the Hainan Airlines flight from Beijing were piped off the plane by a Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo piper.
The service, which has a short stopover in Dublin, will operate four times a week, all year round, and has been described as a major boost for tourism.
Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said: "This is a momentous day as we connect not only Edinburgh and Beijing for the first time, but Scotland and China too.
"It is a route which has immense opportunities for our countries, from tourism and business to culture, education and more.
"We know Edinburgh is second only to London for Chinese tourists and we are eager to welcome more people to our fantastic capital city, but it's also about connecting people from Scotland to Beijing and wider China thanks to Hainan's hub network.
"This is something the city has worked towards for a number of years and we are delighted to see this day finally arrive."
Business Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: "Securing direct links between Scotland and China is one of our key priorities for route development. This new direct Beijing-Edinburgh route is an exciting first chapter in direct air connectivity between Scotland and China.
"It will enable China and Scotland to become closer in partnership and in travel time, building upon existing strong links for business and tourism. The Scottish Government and our agencies look forward to working with Hainan Airlines and Edinburgh Airport to make this route a great success."
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