Singapore Changi Airport welcomed Shenzhen Airlines’ inaugural flight to Singapore this evening. ZH9073, from Nanning, the capital city of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, arrived at Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 at 1715hrs. Guests onboard the maiden flight were warmly received at a welcome ceremony organised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

Shenzhen Airlines will operate four weekly scheduled flights every Wednesday and Saturday between Singapore and Nanning. With the commencement of services by Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore is now connected to 23 cities in China via 416 weekly scheduled flights.

CAAS’ Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Lim Kim Choon said, “Shenzhen Airlines’ commencement of operations to Singapore comes at an opportune time. China is currently Singapore’s third largest passenger market with 2.53 million passenger movements in the first 10 months of 2008. It is also the second largest source of foreign visitors for Singapore with 930,000 Chinese visitor arrivals for the first 10 months of 2008. I therefore urge Shenzhen Airlines to capitalise on this momentum by expanding its operations at Changi Airport, and to pave the way for new flights from other Chinese cities to Singapore.”