Hainan Airlines Launches First Ever Boston to Beijing Service

BOSTON, June 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- China's Hainan Airlines today launches nonstop service between Boston's Logan Airport and Beijing, representing the first scheduled nonstop flight between New England and Mainland China in history - and with the industry's most advanced airliner - the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

In addition, Hainan Airlines has partnered with Boston-based Dav El Chauffeured Transportation Network service to provide complimentary private ground transfers for business class passengers within a 30 mile radius of Logan Airport. The same services will be provided by Dav El in Chicago and Seattle. Hainan Airlines already provides complimentary executive car service in Beijing for long haul business class travelers, and has introduced this in Europe as well.

Hainan Airlines will operate the flights year round every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and due to peak demand, will increase frequency to daily from July 18 through the end of August. With its international hub at Beijing, Hainan offers connections to cities throughout China, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Xi'an, and Haikou. Travelers may stopover in Beijing in either direction and connect with numerous additional Chinese cities across the Hainan network such as Chengdu or Dalian. The new Boston flight will complement the carrier's existing North American service to Beijing from Seattle, Chicago, and Toronto.

Flight 481 departs Beijing at 1:50 pm local time and is scheduled to arrive Logan Airport at 3:10 pm*. Return flight 482 will depart Logan at 5:10 pm with scheduled arrival at 6:50 pm the following day in Beijing.

Recent changes to visa regulations permit U.S. citizens to stay in Beijing for as long as 72 hours visa-free when traveling to international points beyond China, enabling online onward travel to other key destinations such as Thailand.

"We have had our sights on Boston for a long time, and we are thrilled to finally be able to bring Hainan Airlines' famous five-star service to New England. The new flight provides the fastest way to get to Beijing, the capital of China," said Xie Haoming, President of Hainan Airlines, upon arrival on the first flight. "The new flight saves about three hours off existing routings."

President Xie is leading a delegation of company executives, Chinese media, and business people who will engage in meetings with local business leaders and learn about the Boston marketplace. President Xie added that "Business, leisure and educational travel, and trade between the United States and China has been growing dramatically. This wonderful new link will stimulate this growth via the important Boston gateway, our first on the East Coast."

"Lasting growth in the 21st century global economy will come from our competitiveness in global markets," said Governor Patrick. "Hainan's new flight will better serve our international passengers and build upon our growth strategy to open up Massachusetts to new markets to ensure that we remain competitive for many years to come."

"As Massport is one of the leading economic engines of the region, having non-stop service to China is critical for growing jobs and the regional economy as well as offering nonstop options for leisure travelers,'' said Thomas P. Glynn, Massport's CEO. "The economics and the range of a new generation of aircraft, like the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350, make new nonstop routes from Boston to markets like Beijing possible."

Since its founding in 1993, Hainan Airlines has fostered a deep rooted culture of providing excellent service and has earned numerous awards. President Xie added, "We look forward to welcoming Bostonians and New Englanders aboard, while at the same time bringing more Chinese business, tourism, and educational travelers to the region."

Hainan Airlines flights can be booked through all travel agents, travel websites as well as online at www.hainanairlines.com or through its call center at 1-888-688-8813. The airline has opened a local office at 31 St. James Avenue in Boston.

(*flight arrival and departure times are one half hour later on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday during the daily schedule period.)

(Photographs available on request; contact Claire Chen 206-453-0282; e-mail: [email protected])

About the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The Dreamliner carries 213 passengers, 36 in business class, and 177 in economy. Cargo service is also offered. The jetliner features larger windows and has a higher cabin humidity than other airliners, which helps moderate jetlag so passengers arrive refreshed. Every seat has an individual power outlet and USB port, and a state of the art entertainment system offers over 100 movies, audio selections, and games on demand.

About Hainan Airlines

Founded in 1993, Hainan Airlines has a fleet of over 130 Boeing and Airbus aircraft with routes throughout China stretching to Europe, Africa, Russia, Southeast Asia, and North America. The winner of many awards for safety, service, and even for its fine wines, Hainan Airlines is a member of the HNA Group.

About Hainan Airlines Service

Business class passengers are pampered with priority check-in and access to the lounge. On board, they can relax in luxurious seats that convert into a fully flat bed and feature a turn-down service complete with fluffy pillows, fine cotton sheets and a duvet, pajamas, and slippers. Gourmet Chinese or Western cuisine and wines are served on fine china, glassware, and linens; customers may choose when they wish to dine. Freshly brewed espresso and a selection of teas are available. Amenity kits feature famous Bulgari® cosmetics. Large seatback screens improve the inflight entertainment experience.

At Beijing, with advance reservations, premium passengers are treated to complimentary private Mercedes-Benz® limousine service both on arrival and departure. Those making connections to other Chinese destinations may take advantage of the new business class lounge in Terminal 1 offering a wide range of luxurious amenities. Effective July 1, limo services will be extended to Boston, Chicago and Seattle using Boston-based Dav El.

Economy class passengers can also enjoy complimentary beverages, meals, snacks, as well as the same state-of-the-art entertainment system on individual seat-back screens. If connecting in Beijing, an exclusive transit lounge is open to economy class passengers as well.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140620/119652

SOURCE Hainan Airlines Co., LTD