Hainan Airlines to Launch Direct Flights from Las Vegas to China

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A new partnership will launch December 2016 between two hot destinations: Las Vegas and China.

Hainan Airlines has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation to launch a historic new route connecting Last Vegas with Beijing, marking the first ever nonstop flight between Las Vegas and mainland China. The flights are scheduled to begin December 2 and operate Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Chinese tourists are one of the fastest-growing and largest-spending groups of international visitors to Las Vegas, according to the airline. Since the arrival of 10-year tourist visas, in conjunction with the introduction of hotels, programming and amenities geared toward Chinese visitors, Las Vegas has established itself among the major U.S. cities for Chinese travelers to visit.

Since its U.S. launch in 2008, Hainan has transported hundreds of thousands of passengers to and from China, servicing more than 700 routes linking 100 cities.

The new route is part of Hainan’s large-scale expansion in North America. Hainan already operates nonstop service on the west coast out of Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, and Seattle. On the east coast the airline offers nonstop service from Chicago, Boston, Calgary and Toronto.