Hainan Airlines to launch Beijing-Okinawa flight services

China’s leading carrier recently announced that it will be shortly launching its flight services between Beijing and Okinawa.

Hainan Airlines, which is also the fourth largest airline group in China, said that the flight service on the new international route is likely to begin from July 28, 2011.

According to the airline, two round-trips will be operated every Thursday and Sunday utilizing a Boeing aircraft. The flight will depart at 3 pm local time from Beijing. The return flight will leave from Okinawa at 8.40 pm.

Okinawa is a great tourist destination situated between Taiwan and Kyushu. It comprises of over 60 islands. Thousands of tourists visit Okinawa every year getting attracted by its cultural heritage and natural beauty.

Meanwhile, Hainan Airlines reported its Q1 2011 results. The airline in a statement said that it has recorded an increase in its net profits to 273 million Yuan (US$41.8 million), up 8.24 percent y-o-y in Q1 2011.

The airline said that its revenue totaled 5.76 billion Yuan in Q1 2011, up 23.14 percent y-o-y.

According to the tourism industry analysts, the plan to build Hainan Island into popular tourist destination by the government is expected to rake in substantial revenues and profits in the future as well. The analysts also said that this program of the government will boost the prospects of Hainan Airlines further.

Headquartered at Haikou, the Hainan Airlines is the leading carrier in China. With around 500 domestic and international routes to over 90 cities, the airline connects Asia to America, Europe and Africa. The airline operates flight services from Beijing to Brussels, Berlin, Seattle, Budapest, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg and Luanda (via Dubai); Sanya to Seoul; Beijing, Guangzhou, Dalian, Haikou, Ningbo and Xi'an to Taipei; and others.