The news was revealed in London earlier this week

Expanding Chinese carrier Tianjin Airlines has announce several exciting new routes and increased services for 2017.

The carrier is introducing two brand new A330-200s to it fleet in November 2016 with further wide body aircraft next year.

From December 2016, Tianjin Airlines will launch new flights from Tianjin, China, to Auckland, New Zealand, via Chongqing.

Thanks to the airline’s direct flights from London to China, which launched in June 2016, British travellers will be able to fly from London Gatwick to Auckland, via Chongqing.

The Chongqing to Auckland service will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on an A330-200 with 18 business class and 242 economy class seats.

The flight departs Chongqing at 00:30, arriving into Auckland at 18:00 and the return flight departs Auckland at 21:00, arriving into Chongqing at 05:30.

The Chinese carrier will also launch a new flight route from London Gatwick to Xi’an, capital of Shanxi Province and home to the iconic Terracotta Army, in May 2017.

The new Xi’an service will operate on an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 18 business class and 242 economy class seats.

The total flight time to Xi’an is around ten hours and the aircraft will then continue onto Tianijn. 

The new Xi’an route is an exciting development for the airline, which will help travellers discover this fascinating country.

The airline, which launched its first ever UK route from Gatwick on June 25th next year, will also increase its twice-weekly service to three flights per week in summer 2017.

The service currently departs every Wednesday and Saturday from London Gatwick, arriving into China the following day.

Robert Chen, UK general manager for Tianjin Airlines, said: “We’re delighted to announce yet more new services for British travellers following the hugely successful launch of our first ever flights from Gatwick to Tianjin and Chongqing in China. We’re proud to be helping introduce British travellers to our fascinating country through our high quality service and unbeatable flights. 2017 is going to be a very exciting year for us!”

Tianjin Airlines, a subsidiary of HNA Group, currently operates a fleet of nearly 90 aircraft to more than 100 destinations throughout China from its eight hubs: Tianjin, Xi’an, Hohhot, Urumqi, Haikou, Sanya, Guiyang, and Dalian.