Hainan Inaugural Xi'an-Sydney Service
Hainan Airlines has today touched down at Sydney Airport, launching its twice weekly Xi’an-Sydney service in time for the popular Lunar New Year period.
Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said. “Sydney Airport’s pleased to welcome Hainan Airlines’ twice weekly service from Xi’an to Sydney, marking our sixth new airline in 2015, and making us the world’s leading airport for Chinese long haul carriers. Hainan Airlines’ arrival is great news for tourism in Sydney and NSW, with an expected $26.5 million in additional annual visitor expenditure. Securing another new Chinese airline for Sydney Airport is testament to our continued work with government and industry partners to provide a positive visitor experience and attract more Chinese visitors to Sydney, our fastest growing inbound visitor market. Hainan Airlines will also provide Sydneysiders with a direct route to the home of the Terracotta Warriors in China."
Hainan Airlines said the new route connects North Western China with Oceania for the first time.
Hainan Airlines Director of Sales and Marketing Mr Hu Yi said, "We’re glad Hainan Airlines connects world famous and historical Xi’an – the home of the Terracotta Warriors – and Sydney. Hainan Airlines is guided by the objective of being a world-class airline with oriental beauty. Together with our distinct hospitality, we’ll provide passengers with five-star levels of service and a comfortable and a safe flight experience."
Hainan Airlines will operate the route on an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 222 seats. With a young and well-appointed aircraft fleet, Hainan Airlines has won five consecutive global SKYTRAX five-star airline ratings. Xi’an offers travellers a 72-hour visa free period which, coupled with direct Xi’an to Rome and Paris services, makes it an attractive stopover for Australians travelling to Europe.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said, "The arrival of Hainan Airlines in Sydney is a huge coup for NSW. China is NSW’s largest inbound tourism market. In the year ended September 2015, NSW welcomed more than 536,000 visitors from China who spent nearly $2.2 billion in NSW. We are delighted to welcome another international airline to Sydney, bringing even more visitors to our fantastic city and surrounding NSW regions this summer.”
Sydney Airport has implemented a range of China ready initiatives to welcome Chinese passengers, including Mandarin speaking Airport Ambassadors, information available in simplified Chinese, acceptance of Union Pay, support of events such as Lunar New Year, and tailored retail, food and beverage offerings.
Hainan Airlines was founded in 1993 and operates a fleet comprised of Boeing B737, B767, B787 Dreamliner, and Airbus A330 aircraft. Both the B787 and A330 aircraft have fully flat Business Class seats, and meals on board are a perfect blend of Chinese and Western cuisine. Business Class passengers travelling between China and Europe or North America are offered a complimentary pre-arranged Limo service. Hainan services over 700 domestic and international routes, to over 90 cities, and has 10 code-sharing partner airlines.
Loyalty Program : "Fortune Wings Club" which includes Hainam Airlines, Grand China Airlines,Hong Kong Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Yunnan Lucky Airlines and Capital Airlines.
Flights arrive and depart Sydney on Mondays and Thursdays
Flight HU7993 DEP (XIY) Xi'an 5.05pm - ARR (SYD) Sydney 7.20am +1
Flight HU7994 DEP (SYD) Sydney 10.15am - ARR (XIY) Xi'an 6.35pm (same day)
Airbus A330-200 B-6116 on short final to Runway 16R at Sydney Airport
Touchdown, and the Inaugural Xi'am to Sydney service is complete
B-6116 rolled through to vacant on the Alpha 4 Rapid
After a detour on taxiways Juilet, Yankee and Golf to allow the media time to get inplace for the water cannon salute, B-6116 turns back onto Taxiway Alpha
The Hianan Airbus A300-200 on Taxiway Alpha with the iconic Sydney Tower in the background
After turning into International 3, B-6116 receives a water cannon salute from the Sydney Airport ARFF Tankers 2 & 6
The ARFF Tankers spray a large volume of water on the aircraft, and the morning sun casts an unusual shadow
With the starboard engine right below where the two water sprays meet, a vortex formed, sucking water downwards into the engine
You can see the volume of water pouring off the rear of the fuselage
The wing is still covered in water, and a waterfall flows off the trailing edge of the ailerons
With the arrival formalities completed, B-6116 turns right into Gate 31
In the Sydney Airport Media Centre, a celebration cake awaits for the formal proceedings
Sydney Airport Managing Director and CEO Kerrie Mather welcomes Hainan Airlines to Sydney
Ms Wong from the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney welcomes Hainan Airlines to Sydney
Hainan Airlines Director of Sales and Marketing, Mr Hu YI, talks about Hainan and the new service
Mr Hu Yi presents Kerrie Mather with a model of the Hainan Dreamliner, could this mean a Dreamliner service for Sydney
Kerrie Mather presents Hu Yi with a indigenous painting representing the coming together of two peoples
Today's Captain and the VIPs cut the celebration cake
VIP photo call
Mr Hu Yi talking to the Chinese media attending today's event
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