The EGYPTAIR 787-9 plane, flight number MS953, arrives at the Hangzhou International Airport from Cairo on Nov 29, carrying nearly 300 passengers. [Photo/Chinanews]

Hangzhou, Zhejiang province recently opened an air route to Cairo, Egypt. The first plane, an EGYPTAIR 787-9, flight number MS953, arrived at the Hangzhou International Airport from Cairo carrying nearly 300 passengers on Nov 29.

Two flights run on the Hangzhou-Cairo air route. Flight MS953 departs every Wednesday and Friday from Cairo at 01:55 local time and arrives in Hangzhou at 18:55 local time. Flight MS954 departs every Thursday and Saturday from Hangzhou at 00:05 local time and reaches Cairo at 06:35 local time.

The air route shortens the flight time between the two cities to 11 hours.

According to Fang Ming, manager of the airport in charge of market development, the air route is the airport's first to Africa, meaning the airport now offers flights to all five continents.

In addition, airports in Zhejiang province now offer flights to a total of 47 cities involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Hangzhou International Airport opened six international air routes earlier this year, connecting it to cities such as Mandalay and Rangoon in Burma and Rome in Italy.

"Next year we will focus on the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and open more routes to Asian cities," added Fang.