Hainan Airlines eyes more flights to US

Provider is striving to get flying rights to launch direct service between Shanghai and main cities in america

Hainan Airways, China’s largest personal air provider, mentioned it’s inquisitive about launching extra China-US direct flights, as extra Chinese language vacationers are visiting the US, additional stimulating the vitality of the market.

The provider additionally plans to increase its cooperation with US airways. Subsequent yr, it’s going to begin code sharing applications with Alaska Airways and Jet-Blue Airways to strengthen its community protection in america, particularly on the east and west coasts.

Pubin Liang, regional managing director of Hainan Airways in america, mentioned to additional improve its market share, the provider is striving to get the flying rights to launch direct flights between Shanghai and main US cities, particularly those who already provide direct flights to Beijing.

“We launched quite a few direct flights between second-tier Chinese language cities and main US cities, following the growing demand from smaller Chinese language cities. North America is considered one of our most vital markets, and we now have saved on the lookout for potential alternatives on this market,” Liang mentioned.

On Oct 20 and Oct 26, Hainan Airways launched direct flights between Chongqing and New York and Chengdu and New York, respectively. These are the primary direct flights to New York from western China. It additionally operates direct flights between these two cities and Los Angeles.

“The profitable launch of flights between these two Chinese language cities and New York has been a major breakthrough for us, and we want to launch extra direct flights between New York and Chinese language cities sooner or later,” he mentioned.

In 2008, Hainan Airways began its first China-US direct flights between Beijing and Seattle. Up to now, it has turn out to be the Chinese language airline that operates essentially the most direct flights－12 routes－between the 2 nations, together with flights between Beijing and Chicago, Beijing and San Jose, Beijing and Las Vegas, and Shanghai and Boston.

Between January and September this yr, Hainan Airways achieved gross sales income of two.59 billion yuan ($390 million) from its China-US flights, up 19 p.c year-on-year, and the typical passenger load ratio of these flights has exceeded 80 p.c, in accordance with the corporate.

In the course of the busy China-US flight season, from June to October, and through December and January, Hainan Airways has seen excellent gross sales efficiency. In the course of the low seasons, the airline faces some operation pressures and normally adjusts its enterprise by providing promotions, corresponding to package deal offers that embody tourism vacation spot resort tickets and resorts.

Earlier, Hainan Airways cooperated with American Airways on code sharing and connecting flights, however the cooperation weakened after Hainan Airways launched direct flights between Beijing and Chicago, as American Airways provides the identical route.

“This has a major unfavourable influence, particularly on our growth of networks within the Midwest,” Liang mentioned. “Now, we face vital challenges in rising our enterprise on this space with Chicago because the hub.”

Lin Zhijie, an aviation business analyst and columnist at Carnoc, a number one civil aviation web site in China, mentioned the flights between main Chinese language cities and america are fairly saturated, and airways are competing to launch direct flights between second-tier Chinese language cities and america, though working price pressures exist.

“There may be nonetheless demand for extra China-US routes, however the attainable fluctuation of Sino-US relations must also be considered,” he mentioned.

Timeline of Hainan Airways’ American routes

・ Oct 2017

Hainan Airways began direct flights between Chongqing and New York, in addition to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, and New York.

These two flights turned the primary direct flights that join New York and the 2 western Chinese language cities.

・ Jan 2017

Hainan Airways launched direct flights between Changsha, capital of Hunan province in Central China, and Los Angeles.

・ Dec 2016

Hainan Airways launched direct flights between Beijing and Las Vegas. This serves as the primary direct flight between Las Vegas and the Chinese language mainland.

・June 2015

Hainan Airways launched direct flights between Shanghai and Seattle, in addition to direct flights between Beijing and San Jose, California. In the meantime, the airline established direct flights that join Shanghai and Boston.

・ June 2014

Hainan Airways launched nonstop flights between Beijing and Boston.

・ Sept 2013

Hainan Airways initiated direct flights between Beijing and Chicago. It was the primary such route operated by a Chinese language airline.

・ June 2008

Hainan Airways launched its first China-US direct flights between Beijing and Seattle.