New services, deals

Shareco

Beijing- based Shareco Technologies Co launched its online entertainment platform as well as a world- original mission board on Tuesday.

Portal 2.0, a newly selfdeveloped online entertainment platform, is exclusively operated by Shareco. The platform enables travelers to gain in- flight Internet access on planes with previously builtin Internet function by using their own tech equipment, such as laptops or tablets.

As a unique functional module of Portal 2.0, the mission board presents a creative mode of Internet operation on the airplane.

Users can browse websites, watching videos and playing games.

Hainan Airlines

Hainan Airlines will launch a non- stop service between Tel Aviv and Shanghai on September 12, following the launch of the Tel Aviv- Beijing service in April 2016. The route will be serviced by a Boeing 787- 9 aircraft on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

The carrier will also launch a non- stop service between Shanghai and Brussels on October 25.

The route will be serviced by a Boeing 787- 900 deluxe widebody aircraft, with three round trip flights weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Hong Kong Airlines

Hong Kong Airlines said it will open a direct route from Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada on June 30, making a debut in its North American market.

To commemorate the airline’s entry into the Canadian market, Jackie Chan, serving as a Hong Kong Airlines ambassador, will be aboard the inaugural flight. Airbus Airbus said on Thursday that the world’s passenger aircraft fleet above 100 seats is set to more than double in the next 20 years to over 40,000 planes as traffic is set to grow at 4.4 percent per year.

Over 70 percent of new units are single aisle, with 60 percent for growth and 40 percent for replacement of less fuel- efficient aircrafts. A doubling in the commercial fleet over the next 20 years sees a need for 530,000 new pilots and 550,000 new maintenance engineers, the company said.