Hainan Airlines Launches Flights to Edinburgh, Scotland

The first ever direct flight between Scotland and China landed at Edinburgh Airport earlier this month.

The four-weekly, year-round service with Hainan Airlines to Beijing Capital International Airport is Scotland’s first connection to the Far East.

The route will be serviced by an Airbus A330-300 and includes a stopover in Dublin.

On Tuesdays and Saturdays the flight arrives into Edinburgh from Beijing at 0600 and departs for Dublin at 0800 and then on to Beijing.

On Thursdays and Sundays the flight arrives into Edinburgh from Dublin at 0910 before departing for Beijing at 1110.

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said, “This first direct service from China to Edinburgh represents a gear change for Scottish tourism and further cements Scotland’s reputation as a world-class destination. As the Chinese market has grown over the years so too has the Scottish capital’s popularity with Chinese visitors and it continues to be the top destination outside of London. Through our ongoing work with key Chinese tour operators we have seen visitor itineraries extending over the years. Bringing visitors from China directly into the heart of Scotland will create greater opportunities for tourism businesses right across the country, as visitors stay longer and explore further.”

Paul Lewis, managing director of Scottish Development International, said, “We’re working hard to ensure that more Scottish companies can take advantage of trade and investment opportunities in China, while at the same time trying to attract more Chinese companies to base their European operations here. A direct air route is a significant enabler of both these goals and we welcome Hainan Airlines’ first ever route between Edinburgh Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport.”

See latest HD Video Interviews, Podcasts and other news regarding: Hainan Airlines, Beijing, Edinburgh, Scotland.