Hainan Airlines has launched a non-stop service between Brussels Airport and
Shenzhen Boa’an International Airport. The new route to Southeast China was inaugurated by the Chinese ambassador to Belgium Xing Qu, the Country Manager of Hainan Airlines Olivier Yang and the CEO of Brussels Airport Company Arnaud Feist.
After Beijing (since 2006) and Shanghai Pudong (since October 2017), Shenzhen is the third direct destination in China served by Hainan Airlines from Brussels Airport. The rapid expansion of connectivity between China and Belgium should not come as a surprise, the Chinese are increasingly keen on travelling and they are curious to discover Europe.
Some 7 million Chinese visit the European continent every year. Many consider Brussels an ideal starting point for a tour through Europe. The latest direct connection with Southeast China has great potential to bring even more Chinese tourists to Belgium and Europe, and vice-versa. Shenzhen’s picturesque coastline, old temples, large harbour and modern skyline have turned the Chinese city of 11 million into an attractive travel destination.
Shenzhen Boa’an International Airport is in the process of vigorous international and intercontinental expansion. It has registered growth from 32 million passengers in 2013 to nearly 45 million in 2017. Until the beginning of 2017, the focus for the airport was primarily on domestic, regional traffic. The airport however has the capacity and potential to attract intercontinental passengers as well. Last year the airport embarked on a rapid expansion in the number of international and intercontinental routes. The Shenzhen Boa’an to Brussels Airport route is one of the first routes to the European continent. Hainan Airlines recently opened three non-stop international routes – Shenzhen-Auckland, Shenzhen-Brisbane, and Shenzhen-Cairns – making the route ideal for tourists from Central Europe to visit the Pearl River Delta or travel further on to Australia or New Zealand.
Hainan will operate a total of 10 flights a week between China and Brussels Airport as of the summer, including five to Beijing and three to Shanghai. The airline will fly to Shenzhen with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday.