Gatwick Airport has signed a deal with Air China, which is seeking to expand its London network.
China’s national flag carrier will operate a non-stop service from Gatwick to Beijing International Airport four times a week. The Airbus A330-200 aircraft will depart Gatwick at 1300 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, arriving at Beijing airport at 0620 local time the following day. Return journeys will leave at 0135 and touch down at Gatwick at approximately 0550 the same day. Monday’s flight will start operating from the beginning of June.
Air China is the world’s 10th largest airline by fleet use. With a fleet of 330-200 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, the airline currently operates 289 routes, serving a total of 143 cities: 43 international, four regional and 96 domestic. Air China offers 6,900 flights with over 1,150,000 seats every week.
Gatwick said it has been “competing vigorously” since its change in ownership in December 2009. In addition to Beijing, the airport has attracted new routes to South Korea, Turkey, Vietnam and Hong Kong; and over the past two-and-a-half years, has invested £1.2 billion in competing for airlines and growing passenger numbers.
Guy Stephenson, Gatwick’s chief commercial officer, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Air China and its first passengers to Gatwick today as we seek to enhance our role in becoming the gateway to Asia. Broadening trade links with fast-growing developing markets is a priority for the UK, but in order to achieve this, London needs to retain its status as one of the best connected cities in the world.
“Gatwick not only has the capacity to grow to serve 40 million passengers by 2020 but also has the ability to serve London just as effectively as Heathrow—and do so for less than half the cost. This in turn is helping strengthen Britain’s connectivity into the rapidly growing economies of the world, such as China. Air China’s decision to expand this route from Gatwick sends a strong message that Gatwick is competing.”
Wu Xiao Ming, general manager UK & Ireland for Air China, said: "This is a true milestone for Air China and an ideal opportunity for the company to respond to the ever increasing demand to China and beyond."
Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the busiest single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 200 destinations in 90 countries, and around 34 million passengers, each year.
The airport, 28 miles south of London, is owned by a group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners is the largest shareholder.
