Xi'an just got easier to get to for UK travellers as Tianjin Airlines launches a new direct flight from London on Monday. The service connects London to the eastern departure point of the ancient Silk Road for the first time. Xi'an is the capital city of Shaanxi province and a destination growing in popularity for the adventurous tourist.
Tianjin Airlines will operate an Airbus A330 aircraft on the route, which departs at 3:15 pm from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport and will arrive at London Heathrow Airport after a 14-hour journey. Flight GS7987 offers a twice-a-week service on every Monday and Friday, with a capacity of 260 passengers. With return flight prices from just £380 return, there has never been a better time to explore an exceptional region steeped in history and tradition.
The new route is the second Britain-China air route offered by the airline after the Tianjin-Chongqing-London flight that started in June 2017, linking Beijing neighbouring megacity Tianjin and Chongqing to Britain.
The business class of Tianjin Airlines A330-200 has Zodiac Aura Lite Seat with 2-2-2 configuration, with 18 seats in total. The Seat Pitch is 75 inches (191 cm), and the width is 21 inches (54 cm). It could be turned into a 78-inches (198 cm) length full-flat bed.
As the departure point of the ancient Silk Road that connected Europe to Asia centuries ago, Xi'an is home to numerous historic relics, including the must-see Terracotta Warriors, a World Heritage Site.
The airline's Xi'an effort is also riding on the steady growth in economic ties, trade, cultural exchange and tourism between the two countries since the "China-Britain Cultural Exchange Year" was launched in 2015.
About 115,000 Chinese tourists traveled to the UK in the first 6 months of 2017, a 47 percent increase year-on-year. They spent £231 million during their travels, a 54 percent increase year-on-year.
The airline connects Xi'an to more than 40 cities and operates over 200 flights per week with 15 aircrafts. Tianjin Airlines is the 4th largest airline by market share in Xi'an. Connecting Europe and Asia is only part of the airline's global expansion plan. It also launched a cross-hemisphere service from Xi'an to New Zealand in December 2017. Flights to America are also planned.
Tianjin Airlines will celebrate its 9th anniversary on June 8, and will unveil promotional plans for tickets.
