Shenzhen to Dublin direct flight service starts

DUBLIN: Hainan Airlines, a major airliner in China, opened a direct flight service from China’s southern city of Shenzhen to the Irish capital of Dublin to meet the needs of the increasing exchanges between the two countries.

A ceremony to mark the inaugural flight service was held at Terminal One of Dublin Airport on Monday morning, attended by the Chinese ambassador to Ireland Yue Xiaoyong and officials from Hainan Airlines and Dublin Airport Authority.

Operating twice a week on Mondays and Fridays by a Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner with 289 seats, the Shenzhen-Dublin route is the second of its kind ever opened by Hainan Airlines between China and Ireland and the third of its kind that connects the two countries.

On June 12, 2018, Hainan Airlines opened its first direct flight service from Beijing to Dublin, which consists of two non-stop flights a week between the two capitals and two weekly flights with a stopover in Edinburgh of Britain.

Earlier in the same month, Cathay Pacific, a Hong Kong-based airliner, opened a non-stop flight service between Hong Kong and Dublin.

The three direct flight routes launched between Ireland and China in “such a short space of time” reflects the fast-growing links between our two countries, said Dublin Airport managing director Vincent Harrison.