Chinese airline into Gatwick

The much rumoured Chinese airline into Gatwick is Air China.  Chinese officials had been seen around the airport in recent weeks but were described as “inscrutable”.  Which airline they belonged to was not available. 

Beijing – Gatwick will begin during summer 2012 with a two-class Airbus A330 currently on Heathrow.  The plan is to upgrade to a three-class Boeing 777-300ER.

Speaking at World Travel Market (WTM) in London last week, Dr Zhihang Chi, Vice President and General Manager North America for Air China, said: “We fully intend to expand in the UK and increase our presence here but unfortunately we can’t do it at Heathrow.  Our daily Beijing flight to Heathrow has load factors of over 90% – it’s ridiculously full.  But adding capacity at Heathrow is out of the question and we have actually been agonising over this issue for a long time,” said Dr Chi.

Air China is not the first airline to announce plans to follow this option.  Korean Air is understood to be planning a three times weekly Seoul Incheon – Gatwick connection from April next year, complementing its existing Heathrow operation. www.airchina.co.uk

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