Cathay Pacific will launch a non-stop flight between Hong Kong and Washington, DC on September 15, 2018.

The new flight will be operated four times a week with an Airbus A350-1000 and will become the airline’s longest in terms of distance, at 7,085 nautical miles.

“Our customers have told us they want greater options and increased flexibility – and we’ve listened,” said Rupert Hogg, chief executive officer of Cathay Pacific. “Much like Hong Kong, Washington, DC is a vibrant and dynamic destination and we are thrilled to soon be providing the only direct flights between these two great cities. Establishing new direct air links to destinations that aren’t already served from Hong Kong enhances our city’s status as Asia’s largest international hub and allows us to secure new and important sources of revenue.”

Cathay is due to receive its first A350-1000 next spring. It currently has 22 A350-900s in its fleet and has 20 of the longer A350-1000 on order.

The airline has already been flying the A350-900 to Newark and San Francisco in the US since October 2017.

Washington, DC will become Cathay Pacific’s ninth passenger destination in North America, after Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York-JFK, Newark, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver.