Hainan Airlines wants to launch London flights

Flights from Chengdu and Shenzhen could commence in 2017
Hainan Airlines has applied for permission to launch its first flights to London next year.

If the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) approves the bid, the Chinese carrier will start flying to the UK capital from both Chengdu and Shenzhen. The Chengdu-London route could start as early as January 2017, with flights from Shenzhen following in August.

Hainan Airlines plans to operate both routes three times a week using either its Boeing 787 Dreamliner or Airbus A330 aircraft.

Hainan Airlines will become the first airline to offer Shenzhen-London flights, and the second after British Airways to fly between Chengdu and London. But BA is planning to suspend its Chengdu route in January 2017, so Hainan Airlines will be the sole carrier on this route.
Currently four Chinese carriers operate scheduled flights to London, namely Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Tianjin Airlines. Hainan Airlines already flies to Manchester.
Mark Elliott - Travel News