China Southern Airlines to operate a series of charter flights from Beijing to Birmingham Airport

 China Southern Airlines will be operating a series of Airbus A330-200 charter flight from Beijing to
Birmingham Airport this summer - the first airport outside London to offer non stop flights to China

The joint initiative between Birmingham Airport, China Southern Airlines, Caissa Travel Management
Co Ltd and Birmingham China specialist agency, United Travel, demonstrates the enormous demand
for more flights between the two countries

It is now possible to fly direct between Birmingham and Beijing thanks to a £40 million investment by
Birmingham Airport to extend the runway, which will open this summer. The runway extension will
provide airlines with unlimited take off range, allowing jets to fly direct to China, and puts Birmingham
in an ideal place to become an alternative gateway to the UK for flights from China and beyond

The summer 2014 programme will involve direct flights operated by China Southern Airlines arriving
from Beijing into Birmingham between July 22 and August 5 2014. Caissa, one of China’s leading travel
specialists, will sell a range of organised package tours to Chinese visitors seeking to explore the world
class tourism attractions in the Midlands, the North of England and London. China Southern Airlines
will operate a 248 seat A330-200 aircraft on the route

Paul Kehoe, Birmingham Airport’s Chief Executive, said, "Today’s announcement is a result of three
years’ collaborative working with Birmingham City Council, Marketing Birmingham, VisitBritain and
Shakespeare’s England to establish relationships in China and promote the many jewels that the
Midlands has to offer, such as The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Shakespeare’s Birthplace,
Warwick Castle, Bicester Village and the vibrant city of Birmingham itself"
 
Chen Xiaobing, CEO of Caissa Travel, said: "Birmingham is not only the UK's second largest city, but
it is also an important tourist destination of Caissa's. This cooperation will welcome Chinese tourists
to Britain, opening up an important gateway to further expand the Chinese European travel business"

A number of "seat only" tickets and package holidays, flying direct, are also available for UK residents
wishing to visit China.  These flights and holidays will be sold exclusively through Birmingham based
China specialist agent, United Travel, by calling +44 121 666 6338 or www.united-tvl.com
 

Ann Leung, Director, United Travel, commented, "For many years we have been calling for direct flights
between Birmingham and China to satisfy growing demand.  We are constantly receiving enquiries from
business travellers and tourists wishing to visit China, and students and Chinese people wanting to travel
home. Birmingham needs direct flights to China and we are therefore incredibly proud to be part of this
important initiative"

China Southern Airlines Summer 2014 schedule to Birmingham Airport 

Tuesday 22 July 2014 Depart Beijing 0200 Arrive Birmingham 0640
                                     Depart Birmingham 1200 Arrive Beijing 0520

Tuesday 29 July 2014 Depart Beijing 0200 Arrive Birmingham 0640
                                     Depart Birmingham 1200 Arrive Beijing 0520

Tuesday 5 August 2014 Depart Beijing 0200 Arrive Birmingham 0640
                                        Depart Birmingham 1200 Arrive Beijing 0520

All times local - Schedule/timings subject to change



Thursday 13 March 2014