Vegas-Beijing direct flights approved, Caesars launch WeChat room booking

Chinese gamblers can enjoy direct flights from Beijing to Las Vegas now that US officials have signed off on the plan.

On Monday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) confirmed that the US Department of Transportation had officially approved the application by China’s Hainan Airlines to offer the first-ever nonstop flights between the two countries.

The flights will commence on Dec. 2 and travel agents and websites have already started taking bookings. The service, which will utilize Hainan Airlines’ fleet of 787 Dreamliner aircraft, will be offered three times per week.

While international guests made up only 16% of Vegas visitors in 2015, Vegas casinos are eager to lure Chinese tourists, not the least because they rank #1 in terms of their willingness to spend money while traveling.