BOSTON (AP) ― A Chinese airline plans to offer the first direct service from Boston to Beijing, beginning next June.

Hainan Airlines made the announcement at the Massachusetts Statehouse on Tuesday.

The airline will offer four direct, nonstop flights a week in each direction between Boston and Beijing on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with connections offered to other cities in China, including Shanghai.

It will be the first direct service ever from Boston to mainland China, shaving about six hours off of current travel between Boston and Beijing.