The City of Chicago and the Chicago Department of Aviation have announced that Hainan Airlines will begin non-stop services to Chicago O'Hare International Airport from Beijing Capital International Airport after the Chinese carrier received federal regulatory approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) authorising it to serve the route.
The Chinese carrier announced its intent to inaugurate flights to the US during the first half of 2013 using its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners and made a formal application to the DOT on June 18, 2012 for permission to serve Chicago from the Chinese capital. No objections were filed to the application, which meets with the terms of the current US - China aviation air services agreement.
“This is good news for air travellers in the Chicago area and around the United States,” US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “This service will provide the public with an additional option for traveling to China.” There is currently no non-stop service between Chicago and Beijing by a Chinese carrier using its own aircraft, although both American Airlines and United Airlines provide daily services.
Hainan Airlines now proposes to initially operate four-times-weekly flights using Boeing 787s, beginning in the second quarter of 2013. "Chicago's position as a global gateway for air transportation leads to our status as a world-class city," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "This new service from Hainan Airlines to China will provide additional air travel opportunities between Chicago and Beijing, expand single carrier access between many points in mainland China and Chicago, and will generate approximately $80-85 million in annual local economic impact."
"We look forward to welcoming this new nonstop service between Chicago and China by Hainan Airlines," said Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie S Andolino. "International travel from China is one of the fastest-growing sources of visitors to the US. In fact Chinese tourists spend more than $6,000 per trip."
Hainan Airlines has been analysing a number of new markets across North America as it makes preparations for the delivery of the first of its Dreamliners. The Chinese carrier has ten 787s on order and is due to receive its first aircraft during the second half of this year. To comply with local legislation, it will initially use the aircraft on domestic and regional routes for a three month period, before expanding into long-haul markets in 2013.
The Chinese carrier was one of the early customers for the modern generation Dreamliner and originally committed to receive eight aircraft in a deal announced in September 2005 and formalised just two months later. A subsequent conversion of two options in January 2007 has increased the airline’s commitment to ten units and the type will drive the airline’s ambitious network growth.
Hainan Airlines already serves the North American market with existing direct links to Seattle Tacoma and Toronto Lester B Pearson International from Beijing Capital International Airport, but until now its focus has been more on the local Asian region, supported by strategic developments in Africa and Europe. With Hainan Airlines it is not necessarily all about the largest markets as the airline has been happy to pick up traffic rights to some of smaller European hubs, such as Brussels, Berlin and Zurich, allowing its major rivals to concentrate on serving the main gateways.
Speaking to The HUB at this year’s Routes Asia forum in Chengdu, China, a senior network planning executive confirmed that the 787’s range and operating efficiency mean that many routes that could not previously be operated economically with the airline’s existing Airbus A330 equipment would now be possible. “The Dreamliner will enable us to look at new markets and the aircraft are earmarked for expansion into North America in particular,” he said.
Hainan Airlines plans to configure its 787s in a two-class arrangement with 36 Business Class and 179 Economy seats, providing accommodation for 215 passengers in total. Its first aircraft will be delivered in September 2012, according to a company representative.
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