The Flying Critic

Hainan Airlines Launches Nonstop from Beijing to Seattle

Water cannon salute for HU 495's inaugural arrival to Seattle.  Photo by Don Wilson/Port of Seattle.

Last week Hainan Airlines, a Chinese carrier, launched a new nonstop service from Beijing to Seattle.

From their press release:

The nonstop flight will operate four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  Flight HU 495 will depart from Beijing at 4:20 p.m. and arrive in Seattle at noon the same day.  Flight HU 496 will depart from Seattle at 2:00 p.m. and arrive in Beijing at 4:35 p.m. the following day.

Initial flights will be on new Airbus A330-200 aircraft with two classes of service: 36 business-class seats and 186 seats in economy. Among in-flight amenities are Western and Chinese meal options, fresh-brewed coffee, a personal touch screen in every seat with 50 movies, and 180-degree, flat-reclining seats in business class with a generous 74-inch pitch.

Through its extensive network in China, Hainan Airlines can connect Seattle travelers to more than 40 Chinese cities from Beijing, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and the capital of every province.

Passengers may book reservations either through a travel agent or by calling the toll-free line 1-888-688-8813 for English speakers or 1-888-688-8876 for Chinese speakers.  Hainan Airlines currently accepts Visa, MasterCard, UATP and Diner’s Club by phone, and accepts Visa for bookings online at www.hnair.com/us.

Aeromexico to fly twice-weekly to Shanghai from Mexico City

Aeromexico started twice-weekly flights to Shanghai (PVG) from Mexico City (MEX) this week.  The flights leave MEX on Tuesday and Friday as flight AM 98.  The return flights leave PVG on Thursday and Sunday as flight AM 99.  The flights stop in Tijuana, Mexico (TIJ) both directions.  Aeromexico is using a Boeing 777 for AM98/AM99.

 

United to delay launch of its new San Francisco (SFO) to Guangzhou, China (CAN) route

The USA Today blogs on a Marketwatch report that:

[United] [t]he U.S.'s second-largest carrier after American Airlines said it applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday to defer the launch, which was originally planned for June 18.

United blames high fuel prices and declining demand.  It is unknown when United will launch the service. For people looking for a nonstop from the US to CAN, it looks like you are stuck with China Southern's LAX-CAN flight (CZ 328).

US State Department publishes fact sheet for travelers going to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing

If you are planning on going to the 2008 Olympics (or even just to China) you may find this Fact Sheet published by the US State Department helpful. 

China may stop issuing multi-entry visas because of Olympics

According to the Wall Street Journal (login may be required), it appears that China may no longer be issuing multi-entry tourist (L) and business (F) visas from now until October 17, 2008 because of the Olympics. 

From the article:

Several visa agents in Hong Kong, a popular entry point into mainland China, said they received direct word from the China visa office here last week that effective immediately, issuance of the popular multiple-entry visas for foreigners was barred until after the Beijing Olympics. Single- and double-entry visas would be issued instead, they said.

The article does mention that China officials deny that they have changed visa policy.

If this is true, and reports I've heard seem to indicate that it is, this is a bad move for China. 

I have a trip planned to go to Beijing in October of this year and was looking forward to getting a multiple entry visa so that if the opportunity presented itself during the validity of the visa I could make another stop or two in China as a short stopover during other trips.  If China only approves me for a single entry visa I will likely not go through the hassle of getting another visa just for a quick stopover during another trip.