Chengdu-US direct flights expected to open this year

Updated: 2012-02-15 15:47

(chinadaily.com.cn)

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Chengdu is to hold the Tenth Asia-Pacific Air Route Development Forum this April. Global aviation giants such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines will be invited to discuss the opening of the passenger and cargo routes from Chengdu to the US. This was reported from Chen Zhongwei, director of the Chengdu logistics office.

New international direct routes to be opened annually

By 2015, Chengdu will have had about 40 international direct scheduled air routes. An international air route network connecting Europe, America, Australia and Asia will be primarily formed, said Chen.

The United States, Europe, Australia and the Middle East are the key countries and regions that develop direct flights in two to three years. Chen said that it is expected two or three international direct scheduled air routes will be opened each year from 2012 to 2015.

There are currently 24 international direct passenger and cargo routes in Chengdu. The regular international direct passenger flights from Chengdu to Tokyo, to Abu Dhabi and to Bangalore were newly opened in 2011. UPS and FedEx, the global logistics giants have also had their routes in Chengdu.

“We are now advancing that UPS and FedEx establish their Asia-Pacific hubs in Chengdu,” said Chen Zhongwei. Chengdu will take its location advantage to build an air cargo transfer center to Europe.

Optimistic about increasing flights in 2012

On June 20, 2011, a direct route from Chengdu to Tokyo, Japan (Narita) was opened by Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA).

With eight months of operation, Nemoto Yutuki, manager of the ANA Chengdu branch said that a 70 percent attendance was maintained in peak seasons since opening. ANA plans to ensure a daily flight this year.

Shen Xiaorong, manager of the AF-KL Group Chengdu and Southwest branch, also said direct flights from Chengdu to Amsterdam have had a fairly balanced proportion of business travelers and tourists. The AF-KL Group has decided to increase more flights to facilitate tourism and business activities from Chengdu to Europe.