Hainan Airlines could be adding new routes to Vienna, Chicago and Tel Aviv to its network next year, following the filing of applications for the new routes with the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC), according to Flight Global.
If successful, the new route applications would see Shenzhen-Vienna start up in May 2018 flying twice per week, followed by Chengdu-Chicago in June.
The third application is for a twice-weekly service between Chengdu and Tel Aviv, also scheduled for next June. This would be the Hainan Airlines’ third service to the Israeli city – its first from Beijing launched in April 2016, while its second from Shanghai began in September this year.
While it’s not known which aircraft will fly each of the three new routes, it will be either an Airbus A330 or a Boeing 787, according to the report. Hainan Airlines recently introduced new business class seats on some of its B787-9s and A330-300s, but it also operates some B787-8s and A330-200s.
There’s been no word yet from Hainan Airlines on the three proposed routes.
Hainan Airlines has been noticeably expanding its international long-haul network, particularly in North America and Europe. The airline’s first two services to New York from Chongqing and Chengdu took off last month, while back in March it began two new routes to Los Angeles, also from Chongqing and Chengdu. Meanwhile in Europe, Hainan Airlines recently launched its non-stop Shanghai-Brussels service.
Fellow HNA Group carrier, Hong Kong Airlines, has also been expanding its network to North America and Europe, with new flights to Vancouver taking off earlier this year and plans for Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and London also in the works.
