Ties between China and Australia will be strengthened further as Hainan Airlines gears up to launch flights between Sydney, Shenzhen and Hangzhou from January 19, 2011 onwards.
The route, which will be serviced by the dual-class Airbus A330-200, will operate three times a week. Flights will depart Sydney on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 1010 and arrive in Shenzhen at 1640. The flight will then depart for Hangzhou at 1755, arriving there at 1950.
The return leg will depart Hangzhou on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1555, arriving in Shenzhen at 1800. From Shenzhen, flights for Sydney will depart at 1855, arriving there at 0715 the following day.
Over the past year, several Chinese airlines have expanded their reach into Australia by mounting new flights and increasing frequencies. Other Chinese carriers flying to Australia include Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines all of which bought a total of 410,000 Chinese travellers to Australia.
The expansion was facilitated by a bilateral agreement negotiated last year between the two governments, allowing 59 flights per week between the two nations, up from 37.
For more information, visit www.global.hnair.com
Alisha Haridasani
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