Article from BTNews 6 JUNE 2016
Chinese are coming
Tianjin Airlines is the latest Chinese airline to arrive in the UK, operating a twice-weekly flight from Chongqing to Gatwick. Chongqing serves as the economic centre of the upstream Yangtze basin and is a major manufacturing centre and transportation hub.
A July 2012 report by the Economist Intelligence Unit described it as one of China's "13 emerging megacities". In geographical terms, it is in the centre of China with a population of 8.5m.
In a novel promotion, Tianjin will launch services from the UK to China on Saturday 25 June with a ‘lucky’ promotional return fare from £9 plus taxes (£332 including taxes).
The special promotional fares were chosen because the number seven traditionally represents harmony for the Chinese and the number nine represents eternal love – symbolising Tianjin Airlines’ love for the UK market.
This special fare is available on the following Wednesday’s (29 June) flight as well. Flight time is 11.5 hours flown by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 18 Business Class and 242 Economy seats.
Tianjin Airlines currently operates a fleet of more than 90 aircraft and is a subsidiary of the privately-owned Hainan, China’s fourth largest carrier, which recently introduced a four-times-per-week Beijing – Manchester service and has taken a stake in Virgin Australia.
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