World's longest aircraft to fly China-US routes

Air China will fly the Boeing 747-8, the world's longest aircraft, on the Beijing-New York and Beijing-San Francisco routes from January, the airline said on Thursday.

Air China will become the first Asian airline company to use this model of aircraft, Xinhua reported.

Since joining Air China's fleet in early October, the Boeing 747-8 operates on the Beijing-Shanghai and Beijing-Guangzhou routes.

Air China has ordered seven Boeing 747-8 aircraft, and the delivery will be concluded by the end of 2015, the company said.

With a total length of 76.4 metres, Boeing 747-8 has a seating capacity of 365.

Its maximum flight range is 14,815 km.