Shenzhen Airlines’ first-ever intercontinental flight takes off at 2.10pm this afternoon, and it is certainly a cause for celebration for UK-based readers.
The Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport–London Heathrow Airport route launches today and will allow passengers to fly to the English capital in just 13 hours and 30 minutes. The inaugural journey is projected to land in London at 7.40pm (UTC) this evening.
Flights to London will be carried out using an Airbus A330, and will run three times each week – on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is both the first-ever European route that Shenzhen Airlines will operate, and also its first route outside of Asia.
Hainan Airlines, another South China flight operator, also recently added two European routes, with two flights a week from Shenzhen to Zurich since August of this year and Shenzhen-Vienna flights also running twice weekly since October 20.
READ MORE: Shenzhen Ranked World's 2nd Best Tourist Destination for 2019
Despite Shenzhen’s large population of almost 11 million residents, the city’s Bao’an International Airport lags far behind its close provincial neighbor, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, when it comes to passenger flow. In 2017, Baiyun Airport surpassed 65 million passengers, while Bao’an Airport had over 45 million passengers pass through its gates.
We checked Skyscanner, and if you want to grab a seat on the inaugural flight going to London you can pay as low as RMB4,261 for a one-way ticket, and as low as RMB5,642 for a return ticket, coming back on November 13.
Screengrab via Skyscanner
Screengrab via Skyscanner
The opening of this new route comes at the perfect time for intrepid tourists and expats alike, with Christmas and Chinese New Year just around the corner.
READ MORE: Guangzhou Airport Plans 30 New International Routes
[Cover image via Pexels]
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