Hainan Airlines to Use Boeing 787s in Seattle

China’s Hainan Airlines today announced its nonstop service between SeaTac International Airport and Beijing will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliners effective Friday, January 10, 2014.

The carrier has been operating the route since it inaugurated service on June 9, 2008 with Airbus 330 aircraft.

Scheduled departure and arrival times in Seattle will not change, and Hainan will be the only foreign airline operating between the United States and China nonstop with Dreamliners.

Hainan’s high quality service has become well known to travelers who fly between Seattle and China. Hainan Airlines has built a reputation for quality. Its business class service features flat-bed seats with turndown service, gourmet dining and fine wines on bone china, and complimentary limo service in Beijing for both arrival and departure Even its economy class service is well regarded, as the airline received the award for the Best Economy Class Service in the world by World Travel Awards in Doha, Qatar just a few weeks ago. The Dreamliner will add more features to what Hainan refers to as a “Cherished Experience”.

“Hainan Airlines has strong ties to Seattle, operating 110 Boeing aircraft out of a fleet of 128”, said Joel Chusid, Seattle-based Executive Director, US. “We have been looking forward to this for a long time.” The airline has ordered ten Dreamliners, and six are already in service. In addition to Seattle, the aircraft is used domestically and was recently introduced on its trans-Pacific route to Chicago. Plans are to have all its North American routes flown with Dreamliners, including Toronto and its newest announced destination, Boston, which will begin in June 2014.

At Seattle, flights operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. During the summer and peak periods, service is daily. With its international hub at Beijing, Hainan offers connections to cities throughout China and beyond, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Xi’an and Haikou. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, through service is offered between Xi’an and Seattle.

Seattle travelers may stopover in Beijing in either direction and connect with numerous additional Chinese cities and Asian destinations across the Hainan network such as Bangkok, Phuket, Male and the newest destination, Bali. Recent changes to visa regulations permit US citizens to stay in Beijing for as long as 72 hours visa-free when traveling to international points beyond China.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews