Air China has appointed ACP Worldwide as its general sales agent (GSA) for South Africa, as the carrier starts the first non-stop China to Africa flights on 29 October.

The Chinese airline will fly to Beijing from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays using a Boeing 777-300 Extended Range. The first inbound flight was on 29 October and the outbound on 30 October. ACP says business will be principally from Johannesburg and Cape Town though it has established a trucking network from Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London.

ACP Worldwide country manager, Dawn Bailey says: “Air China has a very large network and we will be looking [to] support not just cargo destined for Beijing but also to cities beyond, most notably Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou.”

The GSA says forwarders have expressed interest in moving flowers, oysters, engine blocks, catalytic converters and valuable cargo to China.