Hainan Airlines has become the first carrier to link a Chinese airport with the self-proclaimed ‘entertainment capital of the world’ Las Vegas

On 2 December the carrier launched three times weekly (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) flights on the 10,028-kilometre route from Beijing (PEK) using its 213-seat 787-8s, though demand was so high for the inaugural flight that it was flown by a 787-9. Rosemary Vassiliadis, Director of Aviation for Clark County, Nevada, commented: “Today’s arrival is the culmination of many years of hard work, ushering in a new era of connectivity between Las Vegas and China. McCarran has expanded its international capability specifically for moments such as today, and with the amenities of our new Terminal 3, as well as custom-created Chinese signage and Mandarin-speaking ambassadors, we’re confident that Hainan’s passengers will enjoy an unparalleled airport experience beginning the moment they enter McCarran, and again before they return home.” This winter Hainan Airlines is also operating non-stop flights to five other US airports; Boston (from Beijing and Shanghai), Chicago O’Hare (from Beijing), Los Angeles (from Changsha), San Jose (from Beijing) and Seattle-Tacoma (from Beijing and Shanghai). McCarran International Airport serving Las Vegas becomes the 14th US airport to have non-stop flights to China. Los Angeles (72 weekly flights) and San Francisco (54 weekly flights) are the best connected US airports to China.

Aenna