Hainan Airlines

[David_itl]

He really is clueless about how to deal with Chinese businesses. Yes they may get Beijing Capital but he is doing a sterling job by insinuating sharp practice by MAN and/or Hainan. I've note seen anything (so far!) about Air China with their Shanghai route. One day it will dawn upon him the reason why there will be 4 weekly from MAN to Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai with daily frequencies planned for Hong Kong and Beijing whilst BHX relatively struggling to get a 2 weekly pseudo-scheduled service to Beijing and Hangzhou.

 

[User001]

No one is forcing you to read John. You may 'yawn' but I can guarantee that should the shoe be on the other foot, you would get peed off too.

To be honest David, I'm not bothered how he deals with the Chinese. They will get service to China eventually, and that is to be applauded.

What irks me is his constant disparagement against MAN.

Constant references to underhand subsidies, always deliberately shortens 'northern powerhouse' to 'northern po'rhouse' as a slight to 'poorhouse', and so on.

John Dempsey may feel the need to 'yawn', but that's what Paul Kehoes comments do to me too, aside from being annoyed by his borderline slander.

There's business, and there are childish comments.

 

[stevepayne]

I havent read what PK has said re MAN and Hainan but I do understand how his
comments could upset you MAN fans. You obviously spoke with Hainan well before
BHX did and reaped the subsequent benefits. Bhx will one day get scheduled flights
to China as will other regional airports. It doesnt have to come down to bickering

 

[Dobbo]

Once Hainan are bedded down its over to Air China (Shanghai) the China Southern (Guangzhou). If there is any legitimate favouritism claim it would be in regard to Osbourne promoting MAN to the Chinese president.

 

[David_itl]

Roadshow time! http://www.traveldailymedia.com/235...the-road-to-promote-manchester-beijing-route/

 

[Aceshigh]

Are they still doing BHX. I'm sure the flights were well publicised by now this time last year.

 

[Land23R]

Glad the roadshow is covering such a wide area.

On China generally, has anyone seen the latest rumour /speculation on the BHX forum about a scheduled service
and that it could be Air China?

Is there an update on route applications / approvals with the Chinese authorities that might clarify this? I was under the impression it was Beijing Capital for BHX be it scheduled or charter. And isn't there a one route - one airline policy in China for international services or has that gone?

 

[User001]

Hainan to increase Beijing to Daily from 1st January.

A few routes have been taken off sale from 1st January to accommodate changes. Other routes taken off at the moment are BRU/ORD/BOS. MAN is going daily, BRU 9 weekly with BOS and ORD switching to B787-9.

Changes should be made public in due course. Flights may be put back on sale without changes initially, but then changes will follow after.

 

[Dobbo]

Wow. That happened quickly...

 

[Ray Finkle]

The most notable is a first scheduled link into a regional UK city from China. Hainan Airlines will debut a four times weekly link between Beijing and Manchester from June 10, 2016 and we can reveal that it is set to expand to a more frequent operation from the start of next year to support strong demand.

http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/254405/the-chinese-dragon-roars-in-the-uk/

 

[User001]

I had been given a heads up yesterday that this article was coming.

Hainan reportedly very happy with MAN loads, and apparently there will be a new route to be announced next year from Hainan. Also backed up by airport sources who have received tenders to supply services for 9 weekly flights (daily Beijing and new 2 weekly flight to a new destination. Will be the only UK route to this destination too). New route will also be on B787-8.

Great to see it all making the public domain.

 

[Dobbo]

So to recap, with Chinese (including Hong Kong) flights we are looking at:

Hong Kong - 4x weekly but CX have an aspiration to go daily or 8x weekly.
Beijing - 4x weekly from June to January, with Hainan going daily from January 2017.
Shanghai - Air China to start in September at 4x weekly but daily aspiration.
Guangzhou - China Southern to start (don't knkw when) at 3x weekly.

PLUS - Hainan want to start another route at 2x weekly?

I think it's about time for an update on the positive changes User!!

 

[User001]

Hainan expect to announce the increase to daily on 10th June (launch day). If you go back to 23rd October, the CEO of Hainan did say the flight would be daily quite quickly. Apparently average forward booking load is about 89% according to various sources who would know the info. (Bearing in mind that 89% is on the A330-300, would have been high 90's on originally planned A330-200).

The second destination starting July 2017 (pending government approval) will be a 2 weekly (Thu/Sun) Xi'an service on the A330-200, route application going in as we speak by all accounts, and airport have been told Hainan will be minimum 9 weekly next summer. Hainan supposedly interested in Changsha-Manchester but no immediate plans to launch, so, looking at least 2018 before that one.

China Southern lodging the papers with the CAAC soon, so, could be a while before we hear anything concrete with that one.

Not sure about Air China and their aspirations, but, 4 weekly for me is a fine start. That said, the Shanghai market is now bigger than the Beijing market from Manchester, so, if Hainan need a daily A330-300 on PEK to meet demand, then what would a bigger market need?!

 

[Dobbo]

I don't suppose any UK carriers are interested in the Chinese market from MAN?

 

[User001]

There was talk TCX possibly could after a Chinese tour firm brought 5% of the company, and would use TCX flights for 2 way tourism, but that rumour has gone very quiet.

Would be interesting to see if TCX could resurrect the old my travel route to Sanya?

 

[Dobbo]

It certainly is one way traffic at the minute. I had wondered if VS/DL could be interested but VS are focused on the transatlantic market.

Unless it's BA I doubt any UK carrier can make a sucess of it. TCX might, but their aircraft shortages are an issue and I daresay they have a number of other routes more towards the top of their list of priorities.

 

[Aceshigh]

I presume Thomas Cook could buy seats on the Chinese flights ?

 

[andyc941]

Hi user001,i've been reading on another airports mailing list that if Hainan wanted to go daily they can't because of the bilateral slots left to be used. Have the Hainan increases and Air China flights all already been accounted for?

 

[User001]

Plenty of room in the bilateral.

There were 12 extra slots made available after Hainan started. Air China took 4 for PVG-MAN, Beijing Capital took 2 for HGH-BHX/PEK-BHX. So, 6 left, Hainan have taken 3 for the increase to the MAN-PEK, 2 weekly XIN-MAN leaving 1, but I hear the bilateral is about to be increased again.

The Tianjin airlines flights to LGW were accommodated in the last of the historical slots that were available.

 

[Land23R]

So the rumoured 3 x weekly China Southern flights would not be covered until the bilateral is increased again, unless they took the 3 remaining and Hainan would need the increase for XIN. From what you say though User001, 9 x weekly Hainan flights is likely to happen before China Southern based on the timing of when applications are lodged.