British Airways to double Mandarin-speaking cabin crew on China routes
British Airways will double the number of Mandarin-speaking cabin crew on its China routes, its chief customer officer said on Thursday, as the airline seeks to expand in the world's second-largest aviation market. The IAG-owned carrier expects to have 50 more Mandarin-speaking cabin crew aboard its flights to Beijing and Shanghai by July, Calum Laming told Reuters, which will take the total number to 100 and make China its second-largest overseas crew base after India.
Air China resumes Shanghai-Munich service after four-year hiatus
Air China resumed flights between Munich and Shanghai on Friday (19 January) following an almost four-year absence in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Group travel by Chinese nationals to Germany has been possible again without restrictions since August 2023 and following the return of the Munich service the carrier expects traveller numbers between China and Germany to increase this year. Air China's last passenger flight between Munich and Shanghai took place on 6 March, 2020.
Hong Kong Airlines resumes flights to Maldives
Hong Kong Airlines has resumed direct flights between Hong Kong and Maldives. The airline suspended flights earlier due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first flight landed at Velana International Airport around 1930hrs on Friday night, carrying 209 passengers. The airline will be flying three direct flights per week to Maldives, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Huawei’s Petal Ads and Havas Spain boost Andalusian tourism
Petal Ads, Huawei’s mobile advertising platform, and Havas Spain have partnered with the Andalusian Tourism, Culture and Sports Council (Turismo Andalucia) to strengthen foreign tourism in this growing region. Havas Spain recently won Turismo Andalucia’s tender to handle the region’s media promotion in Asia, while Petal Ads was selected as the platform through which Andalusia will increase its visibility to Chinese travelers and optimize conversion rates.
China Airlines flight Taipei-Hong Kong declares emergency
A China Airlines Airbus A330 operating a flight to Hong Kong declared an emergency on January 20, prompting a return to Taipei. The China Airlines flight CI919 is a routine scheduled flight between Taipei and Hong Kong with the affected rotation being operated by B-18309. CI919 landed safely back into its home base at 1934 local time, around an hour and six minutes after its initial departure.
China’s foreign arrivals still down 60% from pre-pandemic times
China reopened its borders a year ago to revive international tourism. But foreign-traveler numbers remain 60% below pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, China saw 35.5 million foreign entries and exits, only 36% of the 97.7 million in 2019. Over half of these border crossings occurred in the last quarter of 2023, showing late-year momentum.
Chinese tourists flock to savor trendy immersive experiences
This new year season, China's cultural tourism industry is brimming with vitality and the enthusiasm among visitors continues to surge. According to a white paper on China's travel consumption trend in 2023, released by institutes including Tongcheng Research Institute, with the shift in consumer demand, tourism consumption has shown a trend toward seeking uniqueness, relaxation, and surprises.
Skyscanner reveals high travel demand in first week of January and top trending destinations
Skyscanner reports a significant rise in travel searches and bookings in early 2024, reflecting a global eagerness for exploration and adventure. The period from December 26, 2023, to January 9, 2024, witnessed a notable rise in travel searches across various countries, indicating a universal yearning for exploration and escape. Singapore experienced a 13% increase, South Korea a remarkable 42%, India 39%, and Australia 8%. This spike in interest underscores a global inclination towards travel and discovery following the holiday season. Redirects, a key indicator of travel booking intent, also showed substantial growth.
4 giant pandas meet public at Locajoy animal theme park in Chongqing
A total of 4 giant pandas, Qing Hua, Qing Lu, Qiao Yue and Ai Lian, met the public on Thursday. They were transferred from China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda to Locajoy animal theme park in Yongchuan of Chongqing.
