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May 18, 2015

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Home » City specials » Chengdu

Air travel links Chengdu with the world

By Yang Jian | May 18, 2015, Monday | Print Edition

DIRECT flights between Moscow and Chengdu began on May 2, marking a major milestone in the Shuangliu International Airport’s development as one of western China’s leading international air travel hubs.

Sichuan Airlines will use Airbus 330 aircraft to travel between Chengdu and Moscow three times per week, opening the region’s first direct route to Russia. Flights from Chengdu will carry passengers to Russia’s capital in roughly eight hours.

“The airline will firstly use charter flights to operate the route,” an official with the airline said, who asked not to be identified. The carrier will cooperate with the China Youth Travel Service to initially arrange trips for group tourists. The remaining seats will be sold to individual travelers.

The wide-body aircraft will fly every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, taking off at 3pm in Chengdu and arriving in Moscow at 11:25pm. Return flights are scheduled to take off at 1:20am and arrive at 10am.

The new route will also open the fourth direct flight from western China to Europe following routes between Amsterdam, London and Frankfurt. Currently, direct flights to over 80 international destinations depart Chengdu on a regular basis.

“The new route will enhance the status of the Shuangliu airport as west China’s top air traffic hub to Europe,” said Xiao Bo, the airport’s market development director.

It will also deepen collaboration between China and Russia in terms of bilateral trade, among other areas, Xiao said. China has become a major source of tourists to Russia, with over a million Chinese tourists traveling to the country every year. At present, Russia is the 12th most popular destination for Chinese travelers, surpassing Canada and Australia.

To attract more transferring passengers to Chengdu, authorities have opened shuttle bus services between the airport and major tourist spots. Foreign travelers can also receive coupons for airport hotels, shops in terminal buildings and restaurants, the airport authority said.

Over recent years, some 7 percent of the world’s international air travelers have taken connecting flights through the Chengdu airport, according to the Southwest China Civil Aviation Administration. The airport ranked fifth in 2014 among mainland airports in terms of passengers turnover. It transported over 37 million domestic and international passengers to airports in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.

Chengdu has also received approval from the State Council, China’s Cabinet, to become the fourth Chinese city to implement a 72-hour visa-free transit policy, following Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Foreigners from 51 countries who hold third country visas and flight tickets can visit the city for three days without a visa.

Chengdu has emerged as a major freight transportation hub as well, with over 545,000 tons of cargo passing through Shuangliu airport every year, more than any other airport in central or western China.

To accommodate rising traffic levels and other demands that come with operating a global air traffic hub, the State Council and military authorities approved plans in January to build a second airport in Chengdu. The project is slated for construction near Luxia Town, Jianyang City, and should be able to receive over 40 million passengers and 700,000 tons of cargo by 2025, according to the Sichuan Development and Reform Commission.

Authorities believe some 320,000 aircrafts will take off and land at the new airport’s three planned runways annually. With a total investment of about 70 billion yuan (US$11.28 billion), the airport’s design features a 520,000-square-meter terminal building and 157 gates.

“The new airport will help the development of the Tianfu New District in Sichuan Province and accelerate the opening process of the province,” an official with the commission said.

With the rapid development on the local air transportation industry, Chengdu is taking great strides toward becoming an international metropolis when it comes to economic development, foreign investment and cultural exchange.

Half of the world’s top 500 multinational enterprises have set up headquarters or branch offices in Chengdu, said Chen Bin, deputy director of the Chengdu Investment Promotion Commission.

These enterprises include France’s Suez Environment, Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company. Furthermore, Chengdu has also attracted a dozen foreign consulates including those of Israel, the United States, France and New Zealand.

Chengdu


 

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