Just a few days after it announced a new Brussels service from Shanghai for later in the year, Hainan Airlines has unveiled another new westbound route from its Shanghai hub, this time to Tel Aviv.
Due to launch on September 12 from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, the new service will follow the launch in April last year of its Beijing-Tel Aviv service. The Chinese carrier is set to deploy its B787-9 Dreamliner on the route – as it plans to do with its new Brussels service also – that will notably be equipped with its new Dreamliner layout.
The new configuration includes a change from a 2-2-2 set up in business class to a 1-2-1 layout, with all seats being lie-flat herringbone. Premium economy and economy are also available in the new layout, both in a 3-3-3 configuration.
Flights HU407/HU408 will operate three times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Departure from Shanghai and arrival in Tel Aviv will be in the morning, while the return leg will leave Tel Aviv just after midday and arrive back in Shanghai in the early hours of the following morning. (It is worth noting that arrival in and departure from Tel Aviv differs by one hour during the Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer seasons.)
Full details of the schedule are as follows (all times local):
| Flight No. | From | To | Departs | Arrives | Days |
| HU407 | Shanghai Pudong | Tel Aviv | 0125 | 0830 (*0730) | Tue, Thu, Sun |
| HU408 | Tel Aviv | Shanghai Pudong | 1355 (*1255) | 0530+1 |
*From Oct 29, 2017-Mar 22, 2018
