Washington Governor Gregoire Helps Celebrate New Direct Flight Between Seattle And Beijing

Hainan Airlines now offering the only non-stop flight between the Northwest and China

June 9, 2008 -- SEA-TAC – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today helped greet passengers arriving on Hainan Airlines’ new direct passenger flight between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Beijing, and proclaimed today, “Hainan Airlines’ Day,” in Washington.

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Hainan’s new flight is the first non-stop commercial flight between the Washington state and China since 1997. “This new direct flight is great economic news for Washington,” Gregoire stated during the celebration. “It comes at a time when other parts of the nation are facing a struggling economy, and airlines are being impacted by high fuel prices and even consolidating or limiting existing flights.”

Gregoire was joined by Hainan Airlines’ chairman, Chen Feng, who the governor first met in 2005 during a trade mission to China. Since then, the governor has encouraged Chairman Chen, as well as China’s president to push for a direct passenger flight between Seattle and Beijing. “When I met two years ago with President Hu Jintao of China, one of the things we discussed was the need for a direct flight between Washington state and his nation,” said the governor. “In fact, in promoting international trade, I’ve considered it very important to establish more international flights to capitals all over the world.”

Including Hainan’s new Beijing flight, the governor has helped establish six new direct international flights leaving Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The additional international flights fall within Gregoire’s Next Washington economic plan, her initiative to maintain and improve the state’s ability to compete in the global economy. The governor’s trade missions are critical to meeting the goals of Next Washington, and have helped secure new direct commercial flights to Asia, Europe and Mexico. In addition, several new international cargo flights are now flying in and out of the Seattle area.

“China was our largest export market last year. We exported more than $9 billion in goods to China, an increase of 40 percent over the year before,” Gregoire commented. “This flight will make it easier for investors and tourists from both countries to do business and travel.”

Once available, Hainan will use the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the Seattle-Beijing flight.

Last month, the governor helped celebrate with Northwest Airlines, as it announced new daily nonstop service from Sea-Tac to Beijing. That flight is scheduled to begin March 1, 2009.

Source: Washington Governor