Hainan Airlines (Haikou and Beijing) on April 15 retired its last Airbus A340-600 from revenue service. The type was introduced in 2008 on its long haul services.
Top Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A340-642 B-6508 (msn 436) is pictured previously departing from Toronto (Pearson).
Hainan Airlines: 
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.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A340-642 B-6508 (msn 436) arrives at the Beijing hub.
Hainan Airlines: 
Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth. Airbus A320-211 F-GSTR (msn 436) taxies at Nantes.
Strategic Airlines (Brisbane) is dealing with growing adverse publicity with its French division due to a stranded flight in Lyon/St. Exupery. The charter flight with a disabled Airbus A320 was due to depart at 7 a.m. (0700) yesterday (July 10) has been grounded at Lyon/St. Exupery since then due to “technical problems” according to this published report. The passengers were due to fly to the Canary Islands and have been stranded since yesterday. The company is attempting to find a solution. Strategic Airlines has two AOCs (in essence two airlines), one in Australia and the other in France.
Read the article (in French):
Copyright Photo: KianHong. F-GSTR is pictured doing practice landings at Maroochydore (Sunshine Coast) with dual titles.
Strategic Airlines (Brisbane) is getting ready to operate its Airbus A320-212 F-GSTR (msn 436) for Solomons (Solomon Airlines) (Honiara) on the Honiara-Brisbane route.