Latest news with #directflight
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CEA Becomes the First Chinese Airline to Launch Direct Flight From Shanghai to Geneva on June 16
SHANGHAI, June 17, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At 13:20 on June 16 (Beijing time), China Eastern Airlines (CEA) flight MU217 from Shanghai Pudong International Airport landed at Geneva International Airport in Switzerland. This inaugural flight carried 243 passengers with an occupancy rate exceeding 85%. Before departure, CEA held a maiden flight ceremony at Terminal 1 of Shanghai Pudong International Airport, attended by the captain, cabin manager, and representatives of passengers. As the first direct flight between Shanghai and Geneva launched by a Chinese airline, this flight will operate regularly during the 2025 summer and autumn seasons, four times a week - on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The outbound flight MU217 departs from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 1:30 a.m. and arrives in Geneva at 7:50 local time. The return flight MU218 departs from Geneva at 12:00 local time and arrives in Shanghai at 5:30 the following day. CEA will deploy Airbus A350 or A330 large wide-body aircraft on this route, both equipped with high-speed air-to-ground connectivity, allowing passengers to enjoy "Wi-Fi onboard" internet services throughout their journey. Geneva, located in southwestern Switzerland, is a significant center for diplomacy and international affairs in Europe, renowned as the "Capital of Peace" and home to numerous international organizations. This city boasts the picturesque Lake Geneva, majestic Alps, and rich cultural heritage, making it one of the world's most coveted tourist destinations. 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland. The launch of CEA's Shanghai-Geneva route will bridge European charm with Eastern appeal, greatly facilitating business, tourism, and cultural exchanges between China and Europe. As a Nestlé employee based in Shanghai stated, "This new route provides Nestlé China staff with more travel options between China and our Swiss headquarters." Nestlé will also collaborate with CEA to promote the co-branded coffee with the route's launch. So far, CEA has launched flights connecting China with various European cities, including Paris, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome, Venice, Budapest, Moscow, Kazan, St. Petersburg, Milan, Marseille, and Geneva. With the upcoming launch of the Shanghai-Milan route on June 20 and the Shanghai-Copenhagen route on July 17, CEA will operate flights to 15 European cities. View source version on Contacts Company: China Eastern AirlinesWebsite: Contact: fangyingTEL: 00862122331470Email: fangying@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CTV News
7 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
First direct flight from U.S. to Greenland since 2008 lands on Trump's birthday
NUUK, Greenland — The first direct flight from the U.S. to Greenland by an American airline landed in the capital city of Nuuk on Saturday. The United Airlines-operated Boeing 737 Max 8 departed from Newark International Airport in New Jersey at 11:31 a.m. EDT (1531 GMT) and arrived a little over 4 hours later, at 6:39 p.m. local time (1939 GMT), according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. A seat cost roughly US$1,200. Saturday's flight marks the first direct passage between the U.S. and the Arctic Island for nearly 20 years. In 2007, Air Greenland launched a route between Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Kangerlussuaq Airport, some 315 kilometers (196 miles) north of Nuuk. It was scrapped the following year due to cost. The United Airlines flight took place on U.S. President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, which was being celebrated in Washington with a controversial military parade that's part of the Army's long-planned 250th anniversary celebration. Trump has repeatedly said he seeks control of Greenland, a strategic Arctic island that's a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and has not ruled out military force. The governments of Denmark, a NATO ally, and Greenland have said it is not for sale and condemned reports of the U.S. stepping up intelligence gathering on the mineral-rich island. United announced the flight in October, before Trump was re-elected. It was scheduled for 2025 to take advantage of the new Nuuk airport, which opened in late November and features a larger runway for bigger jets. 'United will be the only carrier to connect the U.S. directly to Nuuk — the northernmost capital in the world, providing a gateway to world-class hiking and fascinating wildlife under the summer's midnight sun,' the company said in a statement at the time. Saturday's flight kicked off the airline's twice weekly seasonal service, from June to September, between Newark and Nuuk. The plane has around 165 seats. Previously, travelers had to take a layover in Iceland or Copenhagen, Denmark, before flying to Greenland. The new flight is beneficial for the island's business and residents, according to Greenland government minister Naaja Nathanielsen. Tourists will spend money at local businesses, and Greenlanders themselves will now be able to travel to the U.S. more easily, Nathanielsen, the minister for business, mineral resources, energy, justice and gender equality, told Danish broadcaster DR. The route is also an important part of diversifying the island's economy, she said. Fishing produces about 90% of Greenland's exports. Tourism is increasingly important. More than 96,000 international passengers traveled through the country's airports in 2023, up 28% from 2015. Visit Greenland echoed Nathanielsen's comments. The government's tourism agency did not have projections on how much money the new flights would bring to the island. 'We do know that flights can bring in much more than just dollars, and we expect it to have a positive impact -- both for the society and travellers,' Tanny Por, Visit Greenland's head of international relations, told The Associated Press in an email. Associated Press writer Stefanie Dazio in Berlin contributed to this report. Kwiyeon Ha, The Associated Press
Washington Post
7 days ago
- Washington Post
First direct flight from US to Greenland since 2008 lands on Trump's birthday
NUUK, Greenland — The first direct flight from the U.S. to Greenland by an American airline landed in the capital city of Nuuk on Saturday. The United Airlines-operated Boeing 737 Max 8 departed from Newark International Airport in New Jersey at 11:31 a.m. EDT (1531 GMT) and arrived a little over 4 hours later, at 6:39 p.m. local time (1939 GMT), according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.
The Independent
7 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
First direct flight from US to Greenland since 2008 lands on Trump's birthday
The first direct flight from the U.S. to Greenland by an American airline landed in the capital city of Nuuk on Saturday. The United Airlines-operated Boeing 737 Max 8 departed from Newark International Airport in New Jersey at 11:31 a.m. EDT (1531 GMT) and arrived a little over 4 hours later, at 6:38 p.m. local time (1938 GMT), according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. A seat cost roughly $1,200. Saturday's flight marks the first direct passage between the U.S. and the Arctic Island for nearly 20 years. In 2007, Air Greenland launched a route between Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Kangerlussuaq Airport, some 315 kilometers (196 miles) north of Nuuk. It was scrapped the following year due to cost. The United Airlines flight took place on U.S. President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, which was being celebrated in Washington with a controversial military parade that's part of the Army's long-planned 250th anniversary celebration. Trump has repeatedly said he seeks control of Greenland, a strategic Arctic island that's a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and has not ruled out military force. The governments of Denmark, a NATO ally, and Greenland have said it is not for sale and condemned reports of the U.S. stepping up intelligence gathering on the mineral-rich island. United announced the flight in October, before Trump was re-elected. It was scheduled for 2025 to take advantage of the new Nuuk airport, which opened in late November and features a larger runway for bigger jets. 'United will be the only carrier to connect the U.S. directly to Nuuk — the northernmost capital in the world, providing a gateway to world-class hiking and fascinating wildlife under the summer's midnight sun,' the company said in a statement at the time. Saturday's flight kicked off the airline's twice weekly seasonal service, from June to September, between Newark and Nuuk. The plane has around 165 seats. Previously, travelers had to take a layover in Iceland or Copenhagen, Denmark, before flying to Greenland. The new flight is beneficial for the island's business and residents, according to Greenland government minister Naaja Nathanielsen. Tourists will spend money at local businesses, and Greenlanders themselves will now be able to travel to the U.S. more easily, Nathanielsen, the minister for business, mineral resources, energy, justice and gender equality, told Danish broadcaster DR. The route is also an important part of diversifying the island's economy, she said. Fishing produces about 90% of Greenland's exports. Tourism is increasingly important. More than 96,000 international passengers traveled through the country's airports in 2023, up 28% from 2015. Visit Greenland echoed Nathanielsen's comments. The government's tourism agency did not have projections on how much money the new flights would bring to the island. 'We do know that flights can bring in much more than just dollars, and we expect it to have a positive impact -- both for the society and travellers,' Tanny Por, Visit Greenland's head of international relations, told The Associated Press in an email. __
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
First direct flight from US to Greenland since 2008 lands on Trump's birthday
NUUK, Greenland (AP) — The first direct flight from the U.S. to Greenland by an American airline landed in the capital city of Nuuk on Saturday. The United Airlines-operated Boeing 737 Max 8 departed from Newark International Airport in New Jersey at 11:31 a.m. EDT (1531 GMT) and arrived a little over 4 hours later, at 6:39 p.m. local time (1939 GMT), according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. A seat cost roughly $1,200. Saturday's flight marks the first direct passage between the U.S. and the Arctic Island for nearly 20 years. In 2007, Air Greenland launched a route between Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Kangerlussuaq Airport, some 315 kilometers (196 miles) north of Nuuk. It was scrapped the following year due to cost. The United Airlines flight took place on U.S. President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, which was being celebrated in Washington with a controversial military parade that's part of the Army's long-planned 250th anniversary celebration. Trump has repeatedly said he seeks control of Greenland, a strategic Arctic island that's a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and has not ruled out military force. The governments of Denmark, a NATO ally, and Greenland have said it is not for sale and condemned reports of the U.S. stepping up intelligence gathering on the mineral-rich island. United announced the flight in October, before Trump was re-elected. It was scheduled for 2025 to take advantage of the new Nuuk airport, which opened in late November and features a larger runway for bigger jets. 'United will be the only carrier to connect the U.S. directly to Nuuk — the northernmost capital in the world, providing a gateway to world-class hiking and fascinating wildlife under the summer's midnight sun,' the company said in a statement at the time. Saturday's flight kicked off the airline's twice weekly seasonal service, from June to September, between Newark and Nuuk. The plane has around 165 seats. Previously, travelers had to take a layover in Iceland or Copenhagen, Denmark, before flying to Greenland. The new flight is beneficial for the island's business and residents, according to Greenland government minister Naaja Nathanielsen. Tourists will spend money at local businesses, and Greenlanders themselves will now be able to travel to the U.S. more easily, Nathanielsen, the minister for business, mineral resources, energy, justice and gender equality, told Danish broadcaster DR. The route is also an important part of diversifying the island's economy, she said. Fishing produces about 90% of Greenland's exports. Tourism is increasingly important. More than 96,000 international passengers traveled through the country's airports in 2023, up 28% from 2015. Visit Greenland echoed Nathanielsen's comments. The government's tourism agency did not have projections on how much money the new flights would bring to the island. 'We do know that flights can bring in much more than just dollars, and we expect it to have a positive impact -- both for the society and travellers,' Tanny Por, Visit Greenland's head of international relations, told The Associated Press in an email. __ Associated Press writer Stefanie Dazio in Berlin contributed to this report. Kwiyeon Ha, The Associated Press Sign in to access your portfolio
