The new, twice-weekly service from Xi'an to Rome will initially operate on every Wednesday and Saturday.
ROME – Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines will open a new route between Xi’an, China and Rome on December 9, 2015. The maiden flight coded HU7971 will head to Rome early in the morning. The route connects the starting and end points of the ancient Silk Road.
Hainan Airlines chairman Chen Feng delivers a speech at the inaugural ceremony (PRNewsFoto/Hainan Airlines Co., LTD).
Chen Feng, chairman of the board of directors of Hainan Airlines, said during the inaugural ceremony: “With the ‘One Belt, One Road’ strategic initiative, the increase in demand for business and leisure travel between China and all European countries is serving to stimulate the market for Chinese carriers. The strategic initiative will help boost economic development and regional cooperation between countries along the Silk Road and benefit the people in Asia and Europe. As an airline with a strong sense and understanding of the significance of the historical ties, Hainan Airlines has been actively involved in the development of the initiative since the beginning and aims to become a major contributor.”
The new, twice-weekly service from Xi’an to Rome will initially operate on every Wednesday and Saturday. The service is scheduled to increase to three times weekly starting from March 27, 2016. The flight from Xi’an to Rome, coded HU7971, takes off at 1:00 am and arrives in Rome at 5:55 am the same day. The return flight, from Rome to Xi’an, coded HU7972, takes off at 12:35 pm and arrives in Xi’an at 6:00 am the following day (schedules are based on local time in each location).
Shaanxi provincial vice governor Zhuang Changxing, Hainan Airlines chairman Chen Feng, CAAC Northwest Regional Administration director Chai Duoshan, China West Airport Group chairman Zou Zhanye and Hainan Airlines vice chairman Chen Ming, in addition to other executives, stand together to touch and initiate the movement of the crystal ball, a symbol of good luck, kicking off the inaugural ceremony of Hainan Airlines’ new international service between Xi’an, China and Rome (PRNewsFoto/Hainan Airlines Co., LTD).
The new air route will be flown by an Airbus A330 luxury wide-body aircraft with 36 seats in business class and 186 seats in economy, in a spacious and comfortable cabin. The seats in business class are Lie-Flat seats that recline a full 180 degrees and come with a soft massage feature. The seats, 74 inches apart, are equipped with wide high-definition LCD screens and adjustable reading lights. Passengers can choose from Chinese and western cuisines. All seats on the plane are equipped with individual touch-screen LCD TV entertainment systems with wide LCD display screens. The spaciousness of the cabin assures each passenger to a more enjoyable travel experience.
Since 1993, Hainan Airlines has launched over 500 domestic and international air routes to nearly 90 cities across Asia, Europe and North America.
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