Hawaiian Airlines has received approvals from the U.S. and Chinese regulatory agencies to begin Honolulu-Beijing service, and plans to make its inaugural flight on April 16.

The service will operate three times a week using a 294-seat Airbus A330 aircraft. Hawaiian was granted a five-year "experimental certificate authority," according to an order issued Friday by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Hawaiian also received approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Air China also plans to begin Honolulu-Beijing service, starting Jan. 21, while China Eastern currently flies between Honolulu and Shanghai.