A DIRECT flight was launched Saturday by China’s Hainan Airlines between Shenzhen and the Austrian capital of Vienna, with the landing of its first aircraft at Vienna International Airport.

Hainan Airlines signed a letter of intent for cooperation with Vienna International Airport during the Boao Forum for Asia this April, outlining a plan to launch a nonstop air route between Shenzhen and Vienna.

The airline operates a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the new route, with two round-trip flights per week.

In the first half of the year, the Shenzhen airport opened seven international routes, including five intercontinental routes to Brussels, Madrid, St. Petersburg, Vancouver and Darwin in Australia.

Hainan Airlines opened a direct flight between Shenzhen and Zurich, Switzerland, on Aug. 27, bringing the total number of international flights operating out of Shenzhen to 46.

Earlier this year, Shenzhen Airlines announced it would open a direct flight from Shenzhen to Heathrow Airport in London on Oct. 30.

The Shenzhen airport is quickly expanding its list of international flights. By 2020, the number of international passenger air routes will have reached 65, according to the airport’s plan. By 2025, the number is expected to have reached 90.

The airport handled 24 million passengers between January and June, an increase of 10.6 percent over the same period last year. The number of international passengers rose by 34.7 percent to 1.87 million in the first six months of the year.  (SD News)