Airlines
Air China to Offer Nonstop Flight from Chengdu to Paris in December
Air China (CA) is planning to launch a nonstop flight between Chengdu, the capital city of southwest China's Sichuan province and Paris, France on December 12, the airline said at a press conference on Tuesday.
This is the first nonstop service linking Chengdu and Paris, providing more travel options for people from Chengdu to Europe.
11-Hour Flight from the "Country of Heaven" to the "City of Romance"
The Chengdu-Paris service will be operated four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
The Paris-bound flight is scheduled to take off from Chengdu at 1:30 a.m. and arrive in Paris at 6:20 a.m., with the return flight departing from Paris at 12:15 p.m. and arriving in Chengdu at 6:00 a.m. the next day. It will take about 11 hours for a single trip from the "Country of Heaven" to the "City of Romance".
The schedule takes account of travelers' transit demand after arriving in Paris, and makes it convenient for passengers to transfer via Chengdu to other Chinese destinations.
Network Expansion in Chengdu Hub
Air China is committed to building Chengdu as an aviation hub in southwest China and continues to enrich its network from Chengdu.
The launch of Chengdu-Paris route is an important step in its European network layout. The service is the airline's second nonstop European flight departing from Chengdu. Air China launched Chengdu-Frankfurt route in 2013, which is its first nonstop European service from Chengdu.
After the opening of the Chengdu-Paris service, Air China will be able to launch more diversified tourist products based on market demand and expand its presence in Europe. Meanwhile, the new service will expand the airline's network from the Chengdu hub and improve its influence in the region.
After the launch of the new service, the airline will have 69 routes departing from Chengdu, including 58 domestic routes and 11 international and regional routes.