Category Archives: Hainan Airlines

Hainan Airlines starts nonstop flights between Chicago O’Hare and Beijing

Hainan Airlines (Haikou and Beijing) today (September 3) officially commenced nonstop service from Chicago (O’Hare) to Beijing, opening the airline’s newest American gateway. Mainland China’s only certified Skytrax® five-star airline will operate service out of Chicago (O’Hare) twice per week on Tuesdays and Sundays. In November, subject to government approval, the airline plans to change aircraft type from an Airbus A340 to the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and in December, the nonstop frequency will be doubled to four times per week. In June 2014, the flight frequency will increase to daily.

Hainan Airlines currently serves the Chicago – Beijing route with an Airbus A340-600 aircraft, seating 288 passengers in a spacious three-class cabin. Connections to and from points throughout China are possible and cargo service is also offered.

With the introduction of the 787, the aircraft will feature 36 fully flat-bed business seats configured 2-2-2, as well as 177 economy seats configured 3-3-3. Each seat has a 15-inch touch screen panel and a power outlet. Each business seat also has a USB port.

Currently, flight 498 will depart Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) at 3:25 pm (1525) and arrive in Beijing Capital International Airport at 7:05 pm (1905) the following day. Flight 497 will depart Beijing at 12:35 pm (1235) and arrive in Chicago at 1:25 pm (1325) the same day. Flight times are subject to change.

Among the dignitaries that attended the airline’s official launch in Chicago were Wei Hou, Vice President of Hainan Airlines Co., LTD and Weiping Zhao, Chinese Consul General in Chicago.

Hainan Airlines:

Hainan Airlines takes delivery of its first Boeing 787-8

Hainan Airlines (Haikou and Beijing) and Boeing (Chicago) today (July 4) celebrated the delivery of the airline’s first 787 Dreamliner at Charleston, SC. Boeing 787-8 B-2722 (msn 34939) was handed over to the carrier. The following day the aircraft flew to Boeing Field in Seattle as a crew rest stop and training before proceeding to China. The delivery is the first of 10 787s for Hainan Airlines.

Hainan Airlines will first operate the Dreamliner on a domestic route from Beijing to Haikou starting on July 31. Thereafter, the airline will deploy the 787 on its North America routes, increasing the frequency of its Beijing-Seattle/Tacoma, Beijing-Toronto (Pearson) and Beijing-Chicago (O’Hare) services, with several new destinations.

Beijing-Chicago (O’Hare) commences on September 3.

The Hainan Airlines 787 Dreamliner interior consists of 36 full, flat-bed business seats configured in rows of 2-2-2, as well as 177 economy seats configured in rows of 3-3-3. Each seat has a 15-inch, touch screen panel and a power outlet. Each business seat also has a USB port.

As one of only seven airlines rated as five-star by Skytrax, Hainan Airlines is the fourth largest airline in terms of fleet size in the People’s Republic of China. Its current fleet includes 106 Boeing airplanes. The airline serves scheduled domestic and international services on 500 routes fromBeijing, Haikou and other operating base on the mainland, and provides charter services.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. Boeing 787-8 B-2728 (msn 34938) lands at Paine Field Field near Everett after a test flight.

Hainan Airlines:

Hainan Airlines is coming to Chicago O’Hare

Hainan Airlines (Haikou and Beijing) has announced it plans to begin nonstop service from Chicago (O’Hare) to Beijing on September 3, 2013. Hainan is Mainland China’s only certified Skytrax® five-star airline. Service will be operated with two-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft four times a week, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, with departure and arrival times that allow for convenient connections from points throughout the United States. The new flight will complement the carrier’s existing North American service to Beijing from Toronto (Pearson) and Seattle/Tacoma.

Flight 498 will depart Chicago (O’Hare) at 3:30 pm (1530) and arrive in Beijing at 6:40 pm (1840) the following day. Flight 497 will depart Beijing at 1:20 pm (1320) and arrives Chicago at 1:30 pm (1330) the same day due to the International Date Line. Connections to and from points throughout China are also possible. Cargo service will be offered.

Hainan Airlines:

Hainan Airlines to fly to Chicago next year with Boeing 787 Dreamliners

Hainan Airlines (Haikou and Beijing) has received approval to start a new route next year from Beijing nonstop to Chicago (O’Hare) with Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The route will interline with partner American Airlines. The airline has 10 787-8 Dreamliners on order.

Read the full story from the WSJ: CLICK HERE

Hainan Airlines:

Hainan Airlines 2011 net profit declines by nearly 13% to $416 million

Hainan Airlines (HNA Group) (Haikou and Beijing) saw its net profit decline by almost 13 percent in 2011 to $416 million.

Read the full report from Travel Blackboard: CLICK HERE

Hainan Slide Show: CLICK HERE

American Airlines and Hainan Airlines begin their code-share relationship

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and Hainan Airlines (Beijing and Haikou) have implemented their new codeshare agreement, providing significant growth opportunities for American in China and for Hainan in the United States. Customers can now book these new codeshare flights for travel beginning March 25.

The new codeshare relationship complements American’s existing service to China. Currently, American operates nonstop service in three U.S.-China markets: Chicago O’Hare-Beijing, Chicago O’Hare-Shanghai and Los Angeles-Shanghai.

The codeshare agreement includes:

Display of AA’s flight numbers (AA*) on Hainan flights between Seattle and Beijing as well as on Hainan flights beyond Beijing to Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Kunming and Urumqi.
Display of Hainan’s flight numbers (HU*) on American flights between Chicago and Beijing and Shanghai, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as on American flights to and from 12 other cities in the U.S.

Hainan Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Hainan Airlines may trade its Boeing 787 orders for larger 747-8s

Hainan Airlines (Haikou) may trade its 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners on order for larger 747-8 Intercontinentals according to this report by Bloomberg. The company is coming under pressure to cancel its Airbus A380 orders as per our previous report.

Read the article: CLICK HERE

Hainan Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Hainan Airlines to increase the frequencies on the Seattle/Tacoma-Beijing route

Hainan Airlines Airbus A330-243 B-6116 (msn 875) BRU (Karl Cornil), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Hainan Airlines (Haikou and Beijing) on June 8 will increase its four-times-a-week service on the Seattle/Tacoma-Beijing route to daily service. The route is operated with Airbus A330-200s.

Hainan Photo Gallery: CLICK HERE

American Airlines and Hainan Airlines announce a new joint cooperation

Hainan Airlines Airbus A330-243 B-6116 (msn 875) BRU (Karl Cornil), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and Hainan Airlines (Haikou and Beijing) have signed an agreement to codeshare on each other’s flights and to offer their frequent flyer members new opportunities to earn and redeem miles/points, while providing new growth opportunities for American in China and for Hainan Airlines in the United States.

Hainan , a Skytrax 5-Star airline, operates more than 2,800 weekly flights to cities throughout China as well as international destinations in Africa , Asia , Australia , Europe , the Middle East and North America . From its Beijing hub, Hainan offers more than 400 weekly flights, including service to more than 40 Chinese cities.

The agreement, subject to government approval, will open many new markets that will complement American’s existing service to China . Currently, American operates nonstop service in three markets: Chicago O’Hare-Beijing, Chicago O’Hare-Shanghai and Los Angeles – Shanghai . From its cornerstone hubs at Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles , American and American Eagle offer more than 450 and more than 150 daily departures, respectively.

The key elements of the American-Hainan agreement are:

1. Codesharing (AA*) on direct flights operated by Hainan beyond Beijing that will allow customers on American’s Chicago – Beijing flights to make connections to cities within China.

2. Codesharing (AA*) on direct flights operated by Hainan between Beijing and Seattle/Tacoma.

3. Codesharing (HU*) on direct flights operated by American beyond Seattle/Tacoma that will allow customers on Hainan ‘s Beijing – Seattle flights access to American’s domestic network.

4. Codesharing (HU*) on direct flights operated by American between Shanghai and Chicago / Los Angeles and between Beijing and Chicago.

5. Improvement in flight schedules and connection times to benefit customers of both airlines.

6. Increased opportunities for customers of each airline to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles/points on services operated by the other.

Hainan Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Hainan Airlines again selected as the “Best Airline in China” by readers of Global Traveler Magazine

Hainan Airlines (Haikou) for the second time, was named as the Best Airline in China in the 8th Annual GT Tested Reader Survey Awards conducted by Global Traveler Magazine. The airline won the award in 2008 as well. The award was bestowed on the airline at ceremonies held in Beverly Hills, California and accepted by the airline’s North American managing director, Joel Chusid.

Global Traveler is a well-known and respected magazine in the United States which is read by thousands of upscale travelers. The publication follows news globally about airlines and hotels and travel in general and is popular with people who travel frequently.

The GT Tested Reader Survey Awards are based on an annual poll of readers and select winners in several categories. The awards have become well known in the eight years they have been conducted. Average income of readers exceeds $340,000 , and GT readers average 32 round trips per year. Ninety-five percent of the readers have taken a foreign trip in the past three years, averaging a total of 16 trips. Nearly all readers travel premium class internationally.