Hainan Airlines touches down in Belgrade

Hainan Airlines has commenced operations between Beijing and Belgrade via Prague, becoming the first Chinese carrier to maintain services to Serbia in 25 years. Furthermore, the airline becomes the first to link the Chinese and Serbian capitals in seventeen years. Flight HU7937 arrived in Belgrade just after 09.00 CEST where it was greeted by the Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabić, the Chinese Ambassador to Serbia, Li Manchang, the Serbian Minister for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlović and the CEO of Air Serbia, Dane Kondić. On board the inaugural flight to Belgrade were 234 passengers including a number of high-ranking representatives from Hainan Airlines' parent company, the HNA Group, the Mayor of Beijing, Chen Jining, as well as a Chinese business delegation consisting of over twenty people.

Services between Beijing and Belgrade will run twice per week, each Monday and Friday, with the 292-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Initially, flights will operate via Prague but are likely to be upgraded to nonstop operations from the 2018 summer season. Hainan has secured fifth freedom rights between Prague and Belgrade, allowing it to sell tickets on the sector. "With these rights in place, Hainan Airlines can offer round trip services between Beijing and Prague, Beijing and Belgrade, as well as Prague and Belgrade. This is the only fifth freedom route that Hainan Airlines is currently operating. These rights build a convenient air bridge for passengers in China, the Czech Republic and Serbia", the carrier told EX-YU Aviation News. It added, "Currently we plan to run two flights per week. We will adjust these plans based on market demands. We will evaluate the possibilities whether to increase frequency or operate nonstop before the summer season".

Belgrade Airport

Some 90% of bookings on the new route so far have been made by Chinese tourists, who can now visit Serbia visa free. However, Hainan is also targeting Serbian passengers, as well as business travellers. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Serbia increased 161% during the first half of the year to over 21.000. Chinese mainland travelers are a major driving force for global tourism and as the world's biggest spenders, they dispensed 261 billion dollars in 2016, accounting for nearly 21% of the world's tourist consumption. "Both Chinese tourists and Serbian passengers are equally important to us, we expect that this new route could enhance the exchange of visits between the two peoples. We hope more Serbian customers will recognise us, and we’d like to see more and more Serbian travellers come to China", Hainan said. Since January 1, Serbian nationals no longer need visas to enter China.

Hainan Airlines is considered to be one of China's best carriers and has been ranked as one of the top ten best airlines in the world. Hainan offers 32 seats in business class and a further 260 in economy on its flights between Beijing and Belgrade. Business class features a spacious cabin in a 1-2-1 seating layout with 180-degree adjustable lie-flat seats, Bose headsets and Bvlgari toiletry bags. Passengers in all classes have access to an on-demand entertainment system and a gourmet selection of Western and Oriental meals. The carrier is promoting its new service with an ongoing competition on its social media channels. Subsidiaries of Hainan's parent company, the HNA Group, which is involved in the aviation, real estate, financial services, tourism, logistics, and other industries, are currently bidding as part of a consortium for the 25-year concession of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport.