Air France became the first European airline to fly into the south China city of Guangzhou on Tuesday, when it launched a link to Paris. 

Travelers from Guangzhou can take the AF107 flights every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:30 Beijing time and arrive in Paris at 17:25 local time.

The AF108 return flights take off on every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 13:40 Paris time and arrive at 8:20 Beijing time.

The Airbus 340 used in the service can carry 252 passengers.

Air France has opened two air routes from Paris to China, landing at the capital of Beijing and the economic center of Shanghai.

The rapid economic growth of south China and the soaring exchanges between China and Europe prompted the company to launch the new flight, said Patrick Alexandre, the company's executive vice president of international commercial affairs.

The number of passengers carried to China by Air France has quadrupled in the last 10 years.

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2004)