Air China has launched its first new international route of 2026, connecting Beijing Capital International Airport with Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport on a Boeing 787 widebody. The service, which operates four times weekly, marks an expansion of Air China’s Middle East network and provides an alternative to existing one-stop itineraries. According to AeroTime, the launch coincides with growing aviation ties between China and the United Arab Emirates, as both countries work to expand bilateral connectivity for business and leisure travelers.