Non-stop from Berlin to Beijing

For the first time ever, the Chinese airline Hainan Airlines is flying from Berlin. From 5 September 2008, Berlin will be offering non-stop flights to Peking. The flights will take off four times a week.

Klaus Wowereit, Governing Mayor of Berlin: "For our city, the new non-stop connection from Berlin to Beijing means a considerable improvement of our location. This will further the upturn of the German capital region in tourism and economics. This is a further important direct connection to Asia and thus an important step in the development of the BBI".

Hou Wei, Deputy General Manager of Marketing & Sales Department, Hainan Airlines: "The non-stop flights from Beijing to Berlin are an important step for Hainan Airlines. We want to continue to develop the German and European market for our airline. Our offer is attractive for both German and Chinese business travellers, as well as for tourists from both countries. The service of our airline is very good and we offer many connecting flights at fair prices. Hainan Airlines has earned itself the reputation of a reliable and service-oriented airline. We will do our best to establish our company as first choice for air passengers and turn it into a world-famous brand. With the new range of flights, we will contribute to strengthening the economic, cultural and tourist connections between Germany and China".

Dr Rainer Schwarz, CEO of Berlin Airports: "We are delighted that Hainan Airlines has decided to come to Berlin and start operating flights from China to the new Europe. The new flight connection will further intensify the exchange between the Chinese and the German capital. Furthermore, the flight schedule from Beijing will include around 50 destinations within China, as well as further connections throughout Asia. The flights to Beijing are a further strategic component in the building of our own hub structures here in Berlin or the establishment of other intercontinental hubs as a destination".

Dr Rainer Schwarz also stressed that liberal visa regulations for travel to and from China are important in order to further spur on the demand. Schwarz: "In the globalised world, there is an increasing demand for international mobility. From the German capital, you can fly non-stop to China from September 2008. That would be the right time to also simplify the visa regulations on both sides".

The flights to Beijing will always take off on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Departure from Berlin-Tegel is at 8.20 pm. The aircraft will land in Beijing the next day at 11.10 am local time. From there, it will fly back to Berlin at 2.30 pm. The landing is on the same day at 6.05 pm. The flights from Beijing to Berlin will be operated with a freshly delivered Airbus A330-200 with particularly comfortable seating arrangements. There are 186 seats in the Economy class and 36 in the Business class. All seats are equipped with their own video monitors. Passengers in the Business class can relax in flat beds during the flight.

As an introductory offer, flights to and from Beijing are available for around EUR 455 including taxes and fees. Special service: for both Berlin and Beijing, Hainan Airlines is offering reasonably priced shuttle services in cooperation with Air Berlin, Brussels Airlines and Malev. Particularly good offers are available for flights from Berlin to Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels, Budapest and Warsaw, as well as from Beijing to Shanghai and Nanjing. Further connecting flights are also available from Düsseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Nuremberg, Münster/Osnabrück, London Stansted, Vienna, Zurich, Copenhagen, Göteborg, Stockholm ARN, Rome FCO, Milan BGY, Helsinki, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, St Petersburg und Moscow DME.

Hainan Airlines is China's fourth largest airline. The airline is currently offering more than 500 connections to more than 90 Chinese and international destinations. Since 1993, Hainan Airlines has offices in Beijing, Xi'an, Taiyuan, Urumchi, Guangzhou, Lanzhou and Dalian. From Beijing, around 50 national Chinese destinations are offered. The flight schedule also includes numerous international connections, such as Beijing to Budapest, Brussels, Osaka, Novosibirsk and St Petersburg. Furthermore, from 9 June 2008, the new destination Seattle will be offered. Further connections are also offered from Urumchi to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, or from Sanya to Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

Hainan Airlines is part of the holding company of the HNA Group, was founded in 1989 and began operating flights in 1993. The HNA Group has 148 aircrafts. In 2007, 14.94 million passengers flew with Hainan Airlines. The company has more than 9,000 employees. Hainan Airlines has already won several awards for its offers. In 2000, 2003 and 2007, Hainan Airlines was awarded the "Golden Eagle Cup" of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Nine times in a row, the airline has won prizes for its passenger friendliness. In addition, the airline has been presented multiple awards for being the most punctual airline in the whole of China.

Flights can be booked immediately at: http://global.hnair.com Phone +86 898 950718

Fight schedule:

Fl.-Nr. HU489 PEK-TXL (Flight days Mo., We., Fr., Su.): Departure 02.30 pm and arrival 06.05 pm.

Fl.-Nr. HU490 TXL-PEK (Flight days Mo., We., Fr., Su.): departure 08.20 pm and arrival 11.10 am +1 day