Hainan Airlines to launch Sydney-Shenzhen-Hangzhou flights with Airbus A330-200

The Chinese airline will put an Airbus A330-200 on the route between China and Sydney, with a two class configuration featuring Business Class and Economy Class. Flights will depart from Sydney three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, stopping in Shenzhen before arriving in the final destination of Hangzhou. Services will leave Sydney at 10:10am, and arrive in Shenzhen at 16:40. The aircraft will then depart from Shenzhen at 17:55, before touching down in Hangzhou at 19:50pm.

The return journey will take off from Hangzhou on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 15:55pm, arriving in Shenzhen at 18:00pm. From Shenzhen, flights will depart at 1855, arriving in Sydney at 07:15am the following day.

The airline has just been ranked as a 5 star Airline in the Skytrax ranking, making Hainan Airlines one of 7 airlines with a 5 star ranking. The other six airlines at the top are Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Kingfisher, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines. Whilst the other six all have a First Class cabin, Hainan Airlines is the only one up there with just a Business Class Cabin.

Passengers can therefore expect to receive 5 star service and treatment when they travel Hainan between Sydney and China this January 19th.

This is the first time an airline has offered direct flights between these two Chinese destinations and Sydney, meaning Business travellers will no longer have to make a stopover on their journey and their overall journey time will be reduced.

Other carriers offering direct flights between Sydney and China include Air China, China Eastern, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic and China Southern. Passengers can fly from Sydney to the Chinese destinations of Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou.

On the A330-200, there are only 222 seats even though the aircraft can seat 300, meaning there is much more space. There are 36 Business Class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration, offering 74 inch pitch and reclining 180 degrees into a fully flat bed. The Hainan Airlines Business Class service features silk pillows, slippers, and an espresso machine.