Passengers check in at the airport in Algiers, Algeria, on Feb. 22, 2009. The Air Algerie's first non-stop flight to Beijing started on Sunday, while the price of the ticket is about 958 US dollars.[Xinhua]

Algeria launched its direct flight from Algiers to Beijing Sunday, with the Chinese ambassador among the passengers aboard the inaugural flight.

Liu Yuhe, Chinese ambassador to Algeria, said as the two countries just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations, the regular direct flight serves a new bridge to strengthen the ties between the two countries and their people.

A Chinese passenger (R) checks in at the airport in Algiers, Algeria, on Feb. 22, 2009. The Air Algerie's first non-stop flight to Beijing started on Sunday, while the price of the ticket is about 958 US dollars.[Xinhua]

The inaugural flight, with some 60 passengers aboard, took off at night from Algiers Airport and is expected to arrive in Beijing on Monday morning.

The president of Air Algeria, that runs the Algiers-Beijing flight, said this was a "good start" and the company would open the Algiers-Shanghai route in the future.

Passengers check in at the airport in Algiers, Algeria, on Feb. 22, 2009. The Air Algerie's first non-stop flight to Beijing started on Sunday, while the price of the ticket is about 958 US dollars.[Xinhua]

The direct flight, operated with Airbus 330-200, leaves Algiers for Beijing every Thursday and Sunday, and returns every Friday and Monday.

He added opening direct flight was a major plan for the Algerian government as well as for Air Algeria, which will facilitate cooperation and exchange between Algeria and China in economy, trade and tourism.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2009)