Thanks to increasing business and cultural connections between the US and China, Hainan Airlines recently launched the first ever nonstop service from Boston to Beijing and in doing so has linked Beantown to the Land of the Dragon.
Hainan Airlines will operate the flights year round every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and due to peak demand, will increase frequency to daily from July 18 through the end of August. With its international hub at Beijing, Hainan offers connections to cities throughout China, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Xi’an, and Haikou. Travelers may stopover in Beijing in either direction and connect with numerous additional Chinese cities across the Hainan network such as Chengdu or Dalian. The new Boston flight will complement the carrier’s existing North American service to Beijing from Seattle, Chicago, and Toronto.
Recent changes to visa regulations permit U.S. citizens to stay in Beijing for as long as 72 hours visa-free when traveling to international points beyond China, enabling online onward travel to other key destinations such as Thailand.
“We have had our sights on Boston for a long time, and we are thrilled to finally be able to bring Hainan Airlines to New England. The new flight provides the fastest way to get to Beijing, the capital of China,” said Xie Haoming, President of Hainan Airlines, upon arrival on the first flight. “The new flight saves about three hours off existing routings.”
In addition, Hainan Airlines has partnered with Boston-based Dav El Chauffeured Transportation Network service to provide complimentary private ground transfers for business class passengers within a 30 mile radius of Logan Airport. The same services will be provided by Dav El in Chicago and Seattle. Hainan Airlines already provides complimentary executive car service in Beijing for long haul business class travelers, and has introduced this in Europe as well.
Hainan’s variation of the Dreamliner carries 213 passengers, 36 in business class, and 177 in economy. Business class passengers have the usual priority check-in and access to lounges. On board in Business the seats convert into a fully flat bed with a turn-down service complete with pillows, fine cotton sheets and a duvet, pajamas, and slippers. Gourmet Chinese or Western cuisine and wines are served on china, glassware, and linens and their amenity kits feature Bulgari® cosmetics.
