Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport – one of the world’s most active air terminals – recently welcomed Hainan Airlines to its growing list of international carriers, allowing Terminal 4 to serve more areas of China than ever before. The airline will now offer non-stop service, twice a week, between New York City, Chongqing and Chengdu, China.

To commemorate the new route, a water cannon salute greeted the first flight upon arrival at Terminal 4.

“As the premiere gateway to New York City and the United States, Terminal 4 is pleased to welcome Hainan Airlines to its wide range of carriers,” said Gert-Jan de Graaff, President and CEO of JFKIAT, the company which operates Terminal 4. “Nearly 50 percent of flights arriving and departing from T4 each day are bound for international destinations, and the addition of Hainan Airlines will give passengers more options when traveling to and from China – one of the most popular destinations for world travel – for both business and tourism.”

Hainan Airlines is the largest civilian-run air transport company and the fourth-largest airline in terms of fleet size in the People’s Republic of China. With the addition of Hainan Airlines, Terminal 4 is now home to 34 international and domestic carriers, and serves more than 21 million passengers per year.