United Airlines offers new flights to Xi’an (XIY) this month. Originating in San Francisco (SFO), the trans-Pacific flight will mark the first time a U.S. airline has serviced the city, despite its importance as a Chinese commerce and tourism destination.

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner will service the route May 8–Oct. 27. The flight will depart San Francisco Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 13:25, arriving in Xi’an at 17:30 the following day. Return flights depart Xi’an at 9:30 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving in San Francisco at 6:35 the same day. Flying times are estimated at 12–13 hours.

“United is celebrating our 30^th anniversary of service linking the United States and China this year and there couldn’t be a better way to honor our proud and long-standing relationship than by being the first airline to offer customers nonstop trans-Pacific service to Xi’an. United operates more nonstop U.S.–China flights, and to more cities in China, than any other airline and we expect the addition of flights to Xi’an to continue to create opportunities for trade and collaboration between our two countries through the U.S.–China Tourism Year and long into the future,” said Marcel Fuchs, vice president of Atlantic and Pacific sales, United Airlines.