Three flights per week between Las Vegas and Beijing are about to begin by Hainan Airlines in December 2016 and will serve a surge in Chinese travelers.
LAS VEGAS – Hainan Airlines on August 4 filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation to launch an historic new route connecting Las Vegas to Beijing, the first-ever nonstop flight between Las Vegas and Mainland China, announced the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The service will begin December 2, 2016 and will initially operate Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Chinese tourists are one of the fastest-growing and largest-spending groups of international visitors to Las Vegas. With the reciprocal 10-year tourist visas and the introduction of hotels, programming and amenities geared toward Chinese visitors, Las Vegas has established itself as a major draw for Chinese visitors traveling to the United States.
“With the expansion of tourist activity between China and Las Vegas, Hainan is proud to provide the very first nonstop service to this exciting market,” said Mr. Hou Wei, vice president of Hainan. “Hainan’s award-winning service and elite experience complement the dynamism and vibrancy of Las Vegas. This is a further reflection of our long-term commitment to our customers in China and the U.S.,” added Mr. Hou.
The new route is part of Hainan’s large-scale expansion in North America. On the West Coast, Hainan already operates nonstop service between Silicon Valley (SJC) and Beijing, Los Angeles (LAX) and Changsha, and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Beijing and Shanghai.
“Nonstop international service is increasingly important at McCarran International Airport, and China has long been among our most sought-after markets,” said Clark County Aviation Director Rosemary Vassiliadis, who oversees operations at the eighth-busiest airport in the United States. “We are grateful for our new partnership with Hainan Airlines, and look forward to welcoming its world-class service to our state-of-the-art airport here in Las Vegas.”
“We are extremely proud to welcome Hainan Airlines to Las Vegas with their convenient, premium-service for Chinese visitors,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “China is an area where we have seen steady growth in visitation and we will continue to focus on experiences and amenities that cater to our Chinese guests. With these first-ever flights from China to Las Vegas, we are anticipating more than $33.5 million in annual economic impact.”
Once D.O.T. approval is received, Hainan Airlines flights will be available through all travel agents and travel websites, as well as online at Hainan Airline’s website.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
