A new direct air link between New Zealand and China opened Friday with the arrival of the first Hainan Airlines flight at Auckland Airport.

The new direct link to Shenzhen, in south China, would operate three times a week, airport acting general manager - aeronautical commercial Scott Tasker said in a statement.

The service would add 81,000 seats a year between New Zealand and China and bring an estimated 102 million NZ dollars (71.08 million U.S. dollars) to the New Zealand economy.

"In the last 12 months, New Zealand has welcomed more than 400,000 Chinese visitors - with almost 90 percent entering the country here at Auckland Airport," said Tasker.

"The Chinese market is integral to the New Zealand tourism industry's growth objectives and this new service provides a direct connection to a city of some 10.5 million, with convenient domestic connections to Beijing and throughout Guangdong Province." Endit

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