China Southern Airlines (NYSE: ZNH) (HKSE: 1055), www.cs-air.com/en, the largest airline in The People's Republic of China, is reporting major increases in its PremiumEconomy transpacific passenger loads between Los Angeles and China - chiefly attributed to the increase in Americans travelling to China to adopt children.
China Southern Airlines' 67 seat PremiumEconomy Class recorded more than 50% transpacific load increases in the First Quarter 2002 from the same period in 2001.
"Numbers don't lie," said Mr. Bernhard Clever, Director of Sales and Product Development. "We can see a dramatic increase in the number of Americans that are now travelling to China to conclude the adoption process and we can track this substantial piece of business for China Southern Airlines."
Clever said that the adoption process for US citizens is quite extensive and may take up to two years and thousands of dollars to conclude. "At the end of the adoption process, American citizens may only get their exit visas for their new child at the US Consulate in Guangzhou - which is the only American consulate in China authorized to issue such exit documents. It just makes sense, once the exit visa is given for the infant, for new American parents to take our non-stop 777 service from Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport directly back to Los Angeles."
He added that new US parents generally travel to China along with numerous family members or in adoption groups organized through US-based adoption companies and that adoption agencies offer add-on "land" programs with major international hotels in Guangzhou, including China Southern Airlines' FFP partner - The China Hotel by Marriott and The White Swan Hotel, located next to the US Consulate. Clever said that Americans enjoy China Southern's non-stop Boeing 777 service and "generally upgrade from Economy to PremiumEconomy for the added space and comfort for themselves and their new child.
"Our flight attendants are well versed in handling the special needs of young infants, including warming milk," added Clever.
China Southern Airlines' PremiumEconomy service is the most comfortable and widest economy seating in the transpacific market offering a 40" seat pitch and increased aisle space. Each seat comes with headrests with cushioned side wings for additional privacy and comfort.
China Southern Airlines is pleased to feature the Boeing 777, the most state-of-the-art aircraft in the world. Each PremiumEconomy seat is equipped with an individual crystal PTV screen with stereo headsets. Passengers aboard China Southern Airlines' Boeing 777 aircraft enjoy up to 11 channels of motion picture and informational programming selections with private, fully adjustable video monitors.
China Southern Airlines' PremiumEconomy in-flight service features gourmet meals served on fine china and white linen with a selection of exceptional wines and liqueurs. |
