London Gatwick Airport is preparing to welcome the return of Air China this week, with the return of services to Beijing.
The Chinese flag-carrier will operate four flights per week to Beijing Capital International Airport from tomorrow, increasing to daily services from 24 April.
It will be the first since early 2020 that flights have run between Gatwick and China, and will support increasing demand for travel between the two countries.
The flights provide an economic boost the tourism industry in London and the Southeast, with Chinese visitors spending GBP1,828 per visit and GBP1.8 billion in 2019, according to Visit Britain.
The new connection is also a positive development for the business sector across London and the Southeast. 30 Global 500 companies (compiled annually by Fortune magazine based on revenue) are located in Beijing - more than any other city across the world. In second place, London boasts 28 Global 500 companies.
China sent a record 151,690 students to the United Kingdom in 2021/22 - more than any other country, according to data from Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). This is an increase of 41% since 2017-18 and accounts for the majority (22.3%) of international students in the UK.
Stephanie Wear, VP Aviation Development, Gatwick Airport said: 'We are delighted to welcome Air China back to London Gatwick, providing a vital connection between two of the world's most influential capital cities.
'China is the world's second-largest economy, so by offering direct flights between London and Beijing, Gatwick is providing an important service to people and businesses across the Southeast
'It is also great news for tourism and hospitality across the region. Chinese visitors are traditionally high spenders so the return of regular flights will help support these sectors, which suffered so badly throughout the pandemic.'
Jingjie Li, General Manager, Air China London said: 'We are delighted to resume our direct service from London Gatwick to Beijing. We are well prepared to serve passengers travelling between the UK and China, and via our hub at Beijing Capital Airport to beyond.'
The return of Air China means Gatwick will offer passengers a choice of nearly 50 long-haul destinations this summer, and as an Air China hub, Beijing Capital International Airport also provides fantastic onward connections throughout China and more widely across Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
The new service reflects VINCI Airports' commitment to serve communities and sustain business growth by developing air connectivity. It also highlights Gatwick's competitiveness to attract vital new routes to important markets.
About Gatwick Airport
Gatwick is the UK's second largest airport and is a vital piece of national infrastructure that helps drive both the regional and national economy. More than 40 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 45 long-haul destinations. The airport is focused on rebuilding and growing sustainably in the long term. It has ambitious plans to be a net zero airport by 2030 and increase capacity by bringing its Northern runway into routine use. VINCI Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99% interest.
About VINCI Airports
The world's leading private airport operator, VINCI Airports operates more than 65 airports in 12 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Thanks to its expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and manages airports by providing its investment capacity and its know-how in optimizing operational performance, modernizing infrastructures and managing their operations and environmental transition. VINCI Airports is the first airport operator to have committed to a global international environmental strategy in 2016, to achieve the goal of net zero emission across its entire network by 2050.
For more information:
www.vinci-airports.com
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About Global Infrastructure Partners
GIP manages the remaining 49.99% interest in Gatwick and is a leading independent infrastructure fund manager that makes equity and debt investments in high quality infrastructure assets in the energy, transport, water/waste and digital infrastructure sectors. GIP manages US$84 billion for its investors. Its 46 portfolio companies have combined annual revenues of US$61 billion and employ nearly 100,000 employees. For more information on GIP please visit http://global-infra.com
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