- Leading members of Chinese and U.S. business and government sectors congratulate Hainan Airlines on the inaugural flight of its new route to North America

SAN JOSE, California, June 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Hainan Airlines' flight HU7989 finished its first flight when the plane landed at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport at 11:30 am on June 15 San Jose local time, marking the success of Hainan Airlines' inaugural flight from Beijing to San Jose. Following the landing, San Jose Airport held a brief maiden flight ceremony, which was attended by Chinese Consul General to San Francisco Luo Linquan, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Silicon Valley Leadership Group Chairman Carl Guardino and the operations director of San Jose Airport, among others important members of the local community.

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Consul General Luo addressed the guests at the maiden flight ceremony, congratulating Hainan Airlines on its opening of the non-stop international route between Beijing and San Jose. Mr. Luo mentioned that as China's "Internet Plus" strategy, an action plan that seeks to drive economic growth by integration of Internet technologies with manufacturing and business, is scaled up to a national policy level, more and more residents of the two countries will choose this flight to shuttle to the other country for work, business or study, further promoting understanding and friendship between the two nations and delivering a brighter future for bilateral relations.

Mayor Liccardo also congratulated Hainan Airlines on its opening of the Beijing-San Jose route. He said in his speech, "San Jose lies in the heart of Silicon Valley while Silicon Valley is the center of the world's high-tech industry. San Jose's unique geographic advantage creates a rich academic atmosphere and fosters its safe and harmonious living environment. The opening of the new route serves to satisfy the needs of the many multi-national companies in the Silicon Valley area in terms of business travel as well as those of local Chinese residents in Silicon Valley who need to shuttle back and forth between the two locations."

Hainan Airlines vice president Mu Weigang expressed gratitude to the many individuals from various sectors in both China and the U.S, who provided the support and help which contributed to the opening of the new route. He added, "The opening of the Beijing-San Jose route creates an air bridge for technological and business exchanges between China and the United States. Both for companies in Silicon Valley who seek business opportunities in China or for Chinese companies who wish to learn from the experience of their counterparts in Silicon Valley when they started up their businesses, Hainan Airlines is undoubtedly the first choice due to the convenience and comfort of its flights. We have extended a special invitation to a group of Chinese Internet startups to undertake an "inspection tour" of our flight by being a passenger of the maiden flight. For Chinese entrepreneurs dreaming of starting up their own businesses, Hainan Airlines' opening of the non-stop flight brings the mecca of science and technology, Silicon Valley, close to their fingertips."

Hainan Airlines also held a press conference announcing the new route that evening in San Jose City Hall. Members of both China's and the U.S.'s business and government communities congratulated Hainan Airlines on the maiden flight of the Beijing-San Jose route and offered best wishes for the success of the first flights of its Shanghai-Boston and Shanghai-Seattle routes which are set to open on June 20 and 22 respectively. Expectations are running high that the convenience brought about by the two new routes will serve to spur even more economic, cultural and technological exchanges between the two countries. To showcase the features and advantages of the two cities that sit at each end of the newly opened route and the cutting-edge technology and spirit of innovation represented by Silicon Valley at one end of the route, the press conference included an inspiring and creative presentation of the Hainan Airlines story of development from regional to global carrier, the layout of Hainan Airlines' new network of routes in North America through a 3D projection show which also featured a segment on the comforts and cutting-edge technological elements of Hainan Airlines' Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

All flights on the Hainan Airlines Beijing-San Jose route will be serviced exclusively by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with five flights per week, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. San Jose is Hainan Airlines's fifth direct destination in North America following Seattle, Toronto, Chicago and Boston. The opening of the new route will further optimize Hainan Airlines' global route network, providing Chinese and American travelers with more convenient flight options, which, in turn, will serve to play a significantly positive role in enhancing communication between the two countries.

SOURCE Hainan Airlines Co., LTD