The new flights commenced on 20 June 2014 marking the first ever direct service between the two cities. Initially, Hainan Airlines will operate the trans-Pacific route four times a week, with flights departing Beijing Capital International Airport every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1350, before arriving at Boston’s Logan International Airport at 1510 the same day, having crossed the International Date Line. The return leg will then depart the Massachusetts city at 1710, getting back into Beijing at 1850 the next day.
But the frequency will be increased to daily from 18 July until the end of August.
“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… [cutting] about three hours off existing routings,” said Xie Haoming, president of Hainan Airlines.
“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,” Xie added.
Boston becomes Hainan Airlines’ fourth destination in North America, following Toronto, Seattle, and Chicago. And much of this expansion has been made possible by the recent arrival of the airline’s new fleet of fuel-efficient Dreamliners.
“The economics and the range of a new generation of aircraft, like the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350, make new non-stop routes from Boston to markets like Beijing possible,” explained Thomas P. Glynn, CEO of Massport, which operates Logan Airport.
Hainan Airlines operates its Dreamliners with a low-density two-cabin configuration offering 36 seats in business class and 177 in economy. All passengers are offered on-demand in-flight entertainment, in-seat power outlets and USB ports, while the 36 business class seats all convert into fully-flat beds.
As well as the destinations in North America, Hainan Airlines flies its B787s on key domestic routes connecting Beijing with Haikou, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Changsha, Sanya, Xi’an and Kunming.
China Southern completes Dreamliner deliveries
China Southern Airlines took delivery of its 10th and final Boeing 787 Dreamliner on 18 June 2014.
The Guangzhou-based carrier became the first Chinese carrier to operate the new long-haul aircraft when it received its first ever Dreamliner in June 2013. It has now taken delivery of all 10 B787-8s it had on order, operating the aircraft to international destinations including London, Auckland and Vancouver, and key domestic cities like Beijing and Shanghai.
All China Southern’s Dreamliners are fitted with 228 seats – four in first class, 24 in business class and 200 in economy.
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