The Port of Seattle welcomes the announcement by Hainan Airlines to begin new nonstop service between Seattle and Shanghai, China on June 22, 2015. Hainan will operate two-class Airbus A330-200 four days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday).
Hainan Airlines chose Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as its first United States destination, with service between Seattle and Beijing, in June 2008. Since then, Hainan has added service from Beijing to three other North American cities with plans to begin new service on two other routes. The newly-announced flight will be the airline’s first non-stop flight to Shanghai from the West Coast.
“Boosting nonstop service to China is a growing demand from our region’s business and leisure travelers that needs to be answered,” said Port of Seattle Commission Co-Presidents Courtney Gregoire and Stephanie Bowman.
“Since we began our Seattle route, hundreds of thousands of people have experienced the award-winning service Hainan Airlines provides between the United States and China” said Mr. Ji Chun Liu, Director of Hainan’s International Department. “Now we are excited to open a new nonstop route from Seattle to the important commercial city of Shanghai. The community of interest and expanding trade between the state of Washington and China has grown this market exponentially, enhanced by the new reciprocal ten year visas between the two countries recently put into place.”
China represents the fastest growing market for travel to the United States, and Chinese visitors have accounted for 20 percent of the growth in overseas travel to the U.S. since 2008. This trend is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
China is Sea-Tac’s largest trade partner in total tonnage of air cargo, and second in value of total air cargo, as of November 2014. Sea-Tac has gained a new international route every year since 2007.
Flight Details
The approximate Hainan flight times will be departure Seattle at noon and arrive at Shanghai Pudong Airport at 4:30 p.m. the following day. Departure from Shanghai Pudong will be at 1:15 p.m. and arrive at Seattle at 9:35 a.m. the same day. Flight time is 13 ½ hours westbound and 11 hours, 20 minutes eastbound.
More Details on International Flights at Sea-Tac
Fourteen new international services have been added at Sea-Tac since 2007: Air France (2007 to Paris, transitioned to Delta, March 2012), Lufthansa (2008 to Frankfurt), Hainan (2008 to Beijing 2015 to Shanghai), Icelandair (2009 to Reykjavik), Delta (2010 to Beijing, 2013 to Shanghai and Tokyo-Haneda, 2014 to Seoul, London and Hong Kong) and Condor (2011 to Frankfurt), Emirates (March 1, 2012 to Dubai), and ANA (July 2012 to Tokyo).
Sea-Tac currently has international nonstop connections including six cities in Asia (Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, and Taipei), five cities in Europe (London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and Reykjavik) and Dubai.
Photo by Don WIlson
About Hainan Airlines
Hainan Airlines began its first operation in 1993 and currently operates 500 domestic and international routes, serving almost 90 destinations. It has won four consecutive global SKYTRAX five-star airline ratings since 2011, as well as “Best Airline in China” and “Best Staff Service in China” awards by SKYTRAX for the fifth time. For more information, visit hainanairlines.com or call 1-888-688-8813.
About Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Operated by the Port of Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA, KSEA) is ranked as the 14th busiest U.S. airport, serving nearly 37.5 million passengers and more than 319,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2014. With a regional economic impact of more than $16.3 billion in business revenue, Sea-Tac generates 171,796 jobs (109,796 direct jobs) representing more than $2.8 billion in direct earnings and $565 million in state and local taxes. Twenty-five airlines serve 78 non-stop domestic and 21 international destinations.
The Port of Seattle is setting the course for the future with the Century Agenda. In 25 years, we will generate 100,000 new jobs and increase international trade and tourism, while protecting the environment with innovative sustainability initiatives. Learn more about how the region’s economic engine will keep powering King County’s economy for years to come!
