Hainan Airlines Launches Xi'an-Rome Service

Hainan Airlines (HU) today launches the first nonstop service from Xi'an to Rome, linking the starting and end point of the ancient Silk Road by air, news reported from the airline's inauguration ceremony held at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) on Tuesday afternoon.

This new route connects Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, with Rome, capital of Italy.

The new service will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, using Airbus A330 aircraft. The Rome-bound flight HU7371 is scheduled to take off from Xi'an at 1:00 a.m. and land in Rome at 5:55 a.m., with the return flight HU7972 leaving Rome at 12:35 p.m. and reaching Xi'an at 6:00 a.m. the next day (all local times). A third-weekly service on this nonstop route is expected to be increased from March 27 next year.

The latest Airbus A330 aircraft is configured with a two class cabin layout - 36 business and 186 economy. Lie-flat seats with a 74-inch seat pitch are installed in the business class, offering passengers soft massage service during flight. What's more, adjustable reading lamps, LCD television entertainment systems and Chinese & Western delicacies will bring customers a more enjoyable travel experience.

Chen Feng, chairman of HNA's Board of Directors, said "With the business trip and tourism boom between China and Europe, China's carriers currently have a favorable market circumstance under the leadership of China's 'Belt and Road Initiative', which is a great cause for promoting the economic prosperity and cooperation between Asians and Europeans. As a China's leading enterprise with high sense of historical mission, Hainan Airlines has been actively participating in the construction of 'Belt and Road', and is devoted to become a main force."

The Silk Road refers to the land trade route opened when Zhang Qian was sent west on a diplomatic mission more than 2,000 years ago. Starting from Xi'an, the ancient Silk Road ran through northwest China's Gansu Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Central and Western Asia, before reaching the Mediterranean.

Hainan Airlines has launched Beijing-Berlin, Beijing-Brussel, Hangzhou-Xi'an-Paris, Chongqing-Rome, Beijing-Prague, Beijing-Moscow, Beijing-Moscow and other European routes. The Haikou-based carrier plans to open two more international services from Xi'an to Sydney, and from Xi'an to Tokyo respectively this December.