SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Air China’s robust expansion in North America continues with the launch of its thrice weekly nonstop service between San José and Shanghai on Sept. 1, 2016. The new flight will be operated by A330-200, offering business and economy class cabins.
San José will be Air China’s tenth gateway in North America and its first destination with direct connections to Shanghai from the Silicon Valley. The carrier’s other U.S. and Canada gateways offer nonstop services to Beijing from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Newark, Washington Dulles, Houston, Honolulu, Vancouver and Montreal.
“This has been a tremendous year for Mineta San José International Airport and I’m excited that Silicon Valley business and leisure travelers will soon be able to fly nonstop to Shanghai,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. “Shanghai is a major center of commerce in China and one of the top five requested international destinations by Silicon Valley travelers, and this flight will help strengthen the economic ties between our two regions. I thank Air China for its commitment to and investment in San José.”
A bustling and vibrant world city known for its soaring skyscrapers and stunning blend of old and new, tradition and technology, culture and commerce, Shanghai pairs well with America’s Silicon Valley—the global center for technology and innovation.
“Linking two forward-looking cities is a fulfillment of our company’s mission of promoting economic growth and connectivity. The interdependence of two of the world’s largest economies makes the San Jose-Shanghai service a compelling case in this age of globalization,” Dr. Zhihang Chi, Air China’s Vice President of North America, stated.
He added, “The new service is a response to a strong demand in Silicon Valley for a direct flight to Shanghai. More significantly, it is a result of our collaborative partnership with the City of San José and the Mineta San José International Airport management team.”
A corporate survey conducted in 2012 revealed Shanghai as the top Asian destination by Silicon Valley travelers. Shanghai has also the largest number of Silicon Valley company locations in China.
According to the U.S. Census, San José serves a very large Chinese market and other Asian ethnic groups that can benefit from Air China’s new nonstop service.
“We’re pleased to jointly announce Air China’s new nonstop flights between Shanghai and Silicon Valley,” said Director of Aviation Kim Becker. “Together, Air China, Mineta San José International Airport and Silicon Valley executives who travel to Asia will continue to work in partnership to make this important route an unqualified success.”
Details of the San Jose (SJC) -Shanghai (PVG) service:
| Flight # | Origin-Destination | Departure* | Arrival* | Frequency | Aircraft | ||||||||||
| CA 829 | Shanghai-San José | 1330 | 1040 | Tue, Thu, Sat | A330-200 | ||||||||||
| CA830 | San José-Shanghai | 1230 | 1640+1** | Tue, Thu, Sat | A330-200 | ||||||||||
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Note: * All times are local. ** +1 = Next day. Days of operation and times are subject to seasonal changes. |
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The new flight announcement is Air China’s latest in a round of expansions in the United States and Canada. In July 2015, Air China increased its nonstop Los Angeles-Beijing to three times daily. In Sept. last year, the airline launched its historic thrice weekly nonstop Montreal-Beijing service, the first to connect Montreal directly to China and the rest of Asia. A month later, it launched its nonstop Newark-Beijing flights.
About Air China
A Star Alliance member and China’s exclusive national carrier, Air China is the only airline granted the privilege of having the flag of China painted on the fuselage of its fleet. In addition to its commercial operations, it also provides exclusive special flight services for China’s senior government officials on state visits to other countries. It is the top Asian airline in brand value, according to Brand Finance 2016. As well, it is the only airline in the top 20 of Millward Brown’s Most Valuable Chinese Brands 2016.
With a fleet of 590 passenger aircraft and freighters, Air China serves 174 cities in 40 countries and regions. It offers access to 1330 destinations in 193 countries through its Star Alliance affiliation. It holds the controlling shares in Air Macau, Shenzhen Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Dalian Airlines, Tibet Airlines, Beijing Airlines and Air China Inner Mongolia Limited. Next to the Swire Group, Air China is the second largest stakeholder of Cathay Pacific Airways.
Visit www.airchina.us or call 800-882-8122 for sales and reservations.
About Mineta San José International Airport
Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is Silicon Valley’s airport, a self-supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San Jose. SJC serves 10 million passengers annually, and with new service to Shanghai offers 166 peak daily departures on 14 domestic and international carriers to 38 nonstop destinations.
SJC’s five-star customer service experience sets it apart from other Bay Area and U.S. airports. Airlines and passengers respond positively to SJC’s customer amenities, including modern terminal buildings, free and fast WiFi, comfortable seating with built-in power outlets, a luxurious, award-winning lounge open to all travelers, a duty free store offering an enhanced shopping experience, a rental car center conveniently located across from the terminals, and the Mobile Passport app and Global Entry kiosks to expedite arriving international passengers. Silicon Valley’s airport is located in San José, California’s third largest city and the nation’s tenth largest city. SJC facts can be found here. For more airport information, visit www.flysanjose.com.
