ROUTES ASIA: Hainan Airlines Outlines International Expansion Plans

Hainan Airlines plans to launch a further six international routes in addition to the Beijing – Zurich link that it will inaugurate at the end of May. The carrier says it plans to offer flights to Busan, Colombo, Jakarta, Kolkata, Okinawa and Phuket this summer, but has only started selling tickets on one these routes.

Under its proposal it will add a twice-weekly Hangzhou – Phuket service from April 23; a three times weekly Sanya – Shenzhen – Kolkata link from May 24, a twice-weekly Beijing – Okinawa rotation from June 2; a daily operation from the Chinese capital to Busan from June 15; a Shenzhen – Jakarta flight from June 20 and a four times weekly Beijing – Bangkok – Colombo from August 1.

Source: IATA BSP (February 2010 – January 2011)

Hainan Airlines is the fifth largest Chinese carrier when ranked by international traffic, behind China Eastern Airlines, Air China, China Southern and Xiamen Airlines. It currently offers flights to 19 overseas destinations from ten airports in China.