- New London to Xi’an route launching in May 2017
- New London to Auckland, via Chongqing, route launching in December 2016
- Service increasing to three flights per week
- Two new A330-200s being added to the fleet
On Tuesday 8th November 2016, expanding Chinese carrier Tianjin Airlines hosted a World Travel Market destination breakfast briefing to announce several exciting new routes and increased services for 2017:
New A330-200s: November 2016
Tianjin Airlines is introducing two brand new A330-200s to its fleet in November 2016 with further wide body aircraft next year. Tianjin Airlines’ fleet currently consists of one A330, 23 A320s, 43 E190s and 18 ERJ145s.
New flights to Auckland via Chongqing: December 2016
From December 2016, Tianjin Airlines will launch new flights from Tianjin, China, to Auckland, New Zealand, via Chongqing. Thanks to the airline’s direct flights from London to China, which launched in June 2016, British travellers will be able to fly from London Gatwick to Auckland, via Chongqing. The Chongqing to Auckland service will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on an A330-200 with 18 business class and 242 economy class seats. The flight departs Chongqing at 00:30, arriving into Auckland at 18:00 (13.5 hour flight time) and the return flight departs Auckland at 21:00, arriving into Chongqing at 05:30 (12.5 hours).
New London to Xi’an route: May 2017
The Chinese carrier will also launch a new flight route from London Gatwick to Xi’an, capital of Shanxi Province and home to the iconic Terracotta Army, in May 2017. The new Xi’an service will operate on an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 18 business class and 242 economy class seats. The total flight time to Xi’an is around 10 hours and the aircraft will then continue onto Tianijn.
The new Xi’an route is an exciting development for the airline, which will help travellers discover this fascinating country. One of the oldest cities in China, and once an ancient imperial capital, Xi’an is famously home to UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Terracotta Army. This collection of thousands of terracotta sculptures of soldiers, chariots and horses, dating from the late third century BCE, entices tourists from across the globe.
Increased frequency of service: Summer 2017
The airline, which launched its first ever UK route from Gatwick on 25 June 2016, will also increase its twice-weekly service to three flights per week in summer 2017. The service currently departs every Wednesday and Saturday from London Gatwick, arriving into China the following day.
Mr Robert Chen, UK General Manager for Tianjin Airlines, said: “We’re delighted to announce yet more new services for British travellers following the hugely successful launch of our first ever flights from Gatwick to Tianjin and Chongqing in China. We’re proud to be helping introduce British travellers to our fascinating country through our high quality service and unbeatable flights. 2017 is going to be a very exciting year for us!”
Guy Stephenson, Gatwick’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are delighted that Tianjin has announced a new route from Gatwick to China. Tianjin Airlines now connects Gatwick to three of China’s megacities, including the UK’s only direct flights to Xi’an, home of the Terracotta Army, and Chongqing, southwest China’s commercial capital. Our passengers will value the increased frequency of services to China announced today and the exciting new onward service to Auckland.”
Tianjin Airlines, a subsidiary of HNA Group, currently operates a fleet of nearly 90 aircraft to more than 100 destinations throughout China from its eight hubs: Tianjin, Xi’an, Hohhot, Urumqi, Haikou, Sanya, Guiyang, and Dalian. The airline offers a quality 4-star onboard service to provide passengers with the best possible start to their trip to China.
Jointly established by Tianjin Government and HNA Group, Tianjin Airlines is the youngest 4-star airline in the global civil aviation industry. Through its extensive route network across China and neighbouring countries, Tianjin Airlines also serves destinations including: Shanghai, Dalian, Haikou, Shenyang, Hangzhou, Chifeng, Ningbo, Xiamen, Wenzhou, Ordos, Jinan, Wenzhou, Harbin, Taiyuan, Nanchang, Yantai, Haikou, Sanya, Changchun and so on.
Tianjin Airlines was awarded ‘Best Regional Airline of the Year’ by Center for Asia Pacific Aviation in 2009, ‘Best Domestic Regional Airline of China’ and ‘World 4-star Airline’ by Skytrax in 2011. Also in 2011, Tianjin Airlines passed the IOSA (IATA Operation Safety Audit) and officially became a member of IATA.
For more information visit http://tianjinairlines.co.uk.
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For further press information, please contact:
Melissa Hobson
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8930
E: [email protected]
About Tianjin Airlines
Tianjin Airlines, a subsidiary of HNA Group, is an expanding Chinese carrier operating international, domestic, seasonal and charter flights from Tianjin Binhai International Airport. The carrier offers a quality 4-star onboard service giving passengers the best possible start to their trip to China.
As an aviation enterprise co-established by Tianjin Government and HNA Group, Tianjin Airlines is the youngest 4-star airline in the global civil aviation industry and owns a young and deluxe fleet. The airline currently operates a fleet of over 90 aircraft to more than 100 destinations throughout China from its eight hubs: Tianjin, Xi’an, Hohhot, Urumqi, Haikou, Sanya, Guiyang, and Dalian.
Through its extensive route network across China and neighbouring countries, Tianjin Airlines also serves destinations including: Shanghai, Dalian, Haikou, Shenyang, Hangzhou, Chifeng, Ningbo, Xiamen, Wenzhou, Ordos, Jinan, Wenzhou, Harbin, Taiyuan, Nanchang, Yantai, Haikou, Sanya, and Changchun.
On 25 June 2016, Tianjin Airlines launched its first ever UK route from London Gatwick to Chongqing and Tianjin. The new service operates every Wednesday and Saturday on an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 18 business class and 242 economy class seats. The London Gatwick flight to China departs at 21.45 every Wednesday and Saturday, arriving into Chongqing at 16.40 the following day then flying onto Tianjin and arriving at 21.30. The return flight will leave Tianjin at 10.10 (Wednesdays) and 08.15 (Saturdays), picking passengers up from Chongqing at 15.20 (Wednesdays) and 15.25 (Saturdays) before arriving into London Gatwick at 18.40 on the same day.
For more information visit: http://tianjinairlines.co.uk, Facebook.com/tianjinairlines or Twitter.com/tianjinairlines.
