Airmale From Botswana, joined Sep 2004, 368 posts, RR: 2 Posted (9 years 3 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 1528 times:
Its being discussed at thr rival forum, so where else will they fly? all I can think of BA/Bmed might get Urumqi and Lhasa, BA proper and VS could get tropical Hainan Island(dubbed Hawaii of China) Xian, Xiamen, Harbin, Shenzen, Dalian and Guangzhou.
FlyLondon From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 376 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (9 years 3 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1432 times:
I'm sure BA would love to get into the Shanghai route but are currently prohibited by the authorities. I'd say that with AF's recent startup Guangzhou is more likely than a leisure destination such as Hainan Island, but I don't know how it would affect HKG traffic.
Airways1 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 1999, 553 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (9 years 3 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1362 times:
I'd doubt if any airlines fill all 4 of the available routes, as I don't believe there are that many chinese destinations with high enough capacity at present.
Guangzhou is the obvious choice, but as for others, it is probably not worth it. BA, for example, only fly to Beijing 4 times per week with the 777, so what hope do they have of making an efficient route out of a smaller destination.
I very much doubt Hainan will become a direct route from Europe any time soon. I was in Hainan last year, and the number of Westerners I saw in my entire stay could be counted on one hand.
I believe any european airline would sooner open direct flights to more popular holiday destinations such as Hawaii before even considering any in China.
Airmale From Botswana, joined Sep 2004, 368 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (9 years 3 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1348 times:
Whats wrong with my topic header? it says the airlines have been allowed to fly to 4 more citie sin China that are yet unspecified, I only listed the cities that are most popular with foregn, mainly Asian airlines that BA and VS may consider, with the exception of Urumqi and Lhasa, no need to over react, no European airline added Hawaii in its hey days, I think Hainan, may not be popular now but has greater chances of attracting them.
FlyCaledonian From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 1965 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (9 years 3 months 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1109 times:
Airmale, though BA/VS will supposedly be allowed to open services to an additional four more cities the total number of weekly flights to all Chinese destinations will be restricted to a certain number, which I can't recall!
BA are prohibited from flying into PVG as VS is the only UK carrier allowed on this route. Both the VS and BA CAA licences state this. Likewise, VS cannot operate to Moscow if it would have an impact on BA/BD (If started) operations.
Guangzhou is the most obvious additional city, but as for the other three unsure. Be interesting to see which routes BA and VS want when the four cities are announced, and who gets them!
USAFHummer From United States of America, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 54 Reply 6, posted (9 years 3 months 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 1016 times:
Urumqi and Lhasa? Surely you are kidding right?
Greg
Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru
Airmale From Botswana, joined Sep 2004, 368 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (9 years 3 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 851 times:
Kidding? no, I only speculated considering the type of destinations BA/Bmed (not BA proper) serve already, I also feel that BA/Bmed will be the designated carrier to Afghanistan if BA proper decide to launch the route, othe rpotential destinations for BA/Bmed are Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Mongolia in the region.
Lhasa caters to alot of trekker/tourist traffic from Nepal and recently Royal Nepal became the first foreign airline permitted to operate there they have yet to launch service, even Qatar Airways were considring Kathnmandu-Lhasa at one time.
Urumqi is more central Asian culturally than Chinese its very different to eastern China, if theres demand BA/Bmed could fly there nonstop as well.
Nothing is impossible in the aviation industry we have seen airlines pull nice surprises in the recent past which no one ever expected.
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