The launch ceremony of XiamenAir's Fuzhou-New York service, Fujian's first direct flight to the United States of America. [Photo by Yang Jie/China Daily]

Fujian province's first direct air route to the United States of America, a Fuzhou to New York service, made its maiden flight on Feb 15 taking off from Fuzhou Changle International Airport at 9:15 am.

The route has been launched by XiamenAir and is operating Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for the 14.5-hour flight. Having been in operation for over 30 years, the airline has recently begun focusing its attention on intercontinental and long-haul flights to offer a more complete range of services to its established client base.

People dress in cartoon costumes to welcome passengers aboard the maiden voyage of XiamenAir's Fuzhou-New York service, Fujian's first direct flight to the United States of America, on Feb 15. [Photo by Yang Jie/China Daily]

The 14,000-kilometer route is the third longest to be tackled by a 787 vessel and adds to Chinese mainland's established direct flights to New York from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Although XiamenAir has an impressive 21 overseas routes, the direct route to New York is considered particularly important to the company given the large Fujian province diaspora now living on the East Coast (data suggests a number in excess of 2 million inhabitants from Fuzhou alone).

Cabin crew members for the maiden voyage of XiamenAir's Fuzhou-New York service pose for a photo. [Photo by Yang Jie/China Daily] A ground staff worker salutes the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. [Photo/Fuzhou Changle Airport]

This interconnectivity between Fujian province and the US East Coast has a longstanding history with the Chinese diaspora having played a strong investment role in the southeastern province for several decades. Notably, Chen Qingquan, originally from Changle in Fuzhou, headed a group that invested in excess of 687 million yuan ($100 million) in the region from 1990 onwards.