A Sparkling Debut for the Nonstop to Beijing

Summer travels have been enriched by the addition of a nonstop service from San Jose to Beijing and back to San Jose with the inaugural introduction of five flights scheduled per week by Hainan Airlines, the largest privately-owned transport company in China.

The stunningly designed modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft landed safely this week at Terminal B of the Mineta San José International Airport (SJC), in San Jose, technology’s gateway to the world. The first-ever, non-stop flight number 7989 was greeted with the joyous applause by the passengers and the dignitaries representing both destinations.

An inaugural ceremony at Gate 18 included the Honorable Mayor Sam Liccardo and Hainan Airlines Vice Chairman Mu Weigang, as well as a number of dignitaries who celebrated this special occasion by breaking a giant fortune cookie containing a ‘’Welcome to San Jose’’ message to Hainan Airlines and its passengers.

‘’Mineta San José International Airport is the choice for Silicon Valley executives who travel to Asia,’’ Mayor Sam Liccardo said. ‘’We congratulate Hainan Airlines on its inaugural nonstop service between Silicon Valley and Beijing and thank our newest international carrier for its significant investment in San José. I strongly encourage all business and leisure travelers to fly Hainan’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner to mainland China from SJC.’’

The festivities also included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, traditional Chinese music performed by a quartet of local Chinese musicians, a lovely balloon creation of a six foot tall smiling Panda, and a spectacular water cannon salute performed by SJC’s aircraft rescue and firefighting personnel who, according to the press release, rescheduled the trucks’ water discharge test, which typically occurs every Sunday at SJC, to today.

The airport’s press release states that the flight’s economic impact for the San Jose region is estimated at $105 million annually and adds fifty-two San Jose-based jobs. ‘’Silicon Valley companies have more than 550 corporate locations in China, and have a growing focus on developing more business across Asia and the China market in particular,’’ said Silicon Valley Leadership Group President and CEO Carl Guardino. ‘’With more than 220,000 Silicon Valley residents with Chinese heritage, China also is a top destination for travelers returning to visit family and friends. The service also is expected to be popular with tourists and college students traveling between the Bay Area and China.’’

‘’We are looking forward to welcoming even more travelers from Silicon Valley,’’ said Hainan Airlines Vice Chairman Mu Weigang. ‘’With the growth of the technology industry, trade between China and the U.S., and especially this region, has expanded. Travelers will no longer have to endure traffic and taking longer routings when they are flying to or from Silicon Valley, and San José Airport is known for its amenities and accessibility.’’

The 213 seat, two-cabin class Dreamliner offers 36 seats in Business and 177 seats in Economy. ‘’Hainan and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner are well-matched for our market with travelers who prefer to choose SJC for our convenience, on-time performance, and technologically-advanced facilities and services,’’ said Kim Becker, San Jose’s Director of Aviation.

Visit https://www.hainanairlines.com/US/US/Home for fares and specials.

For more airport information, visit www.flysanjose.com.

Lina Broydo immigrated from Russia, then the Soviet Union, to Israel where she was educated and got married. After working at the University in Birmingham, England she and her husband immigrated to the United States. She lives in Los Altos Hills, CA and writes about travel, art, style, entertainment, and sports. She hardly cooks or bakes, with no borsch or piroshky on her home cooking menu. Therefore, she makes reservations and enjoys dining out, mostly sushi.

By Lina Broydo