Airports Hit By Global IT Issue - Canada

Airports Hit By Global IT Issue - Canada

Porter staff direct travellers at Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto on Friday, July 19, 2024. Porter Airlines suspended flights until at least noon as a global tech outage affected flights at the airline. Photo by Christopher Katsarov/CP/ABACAPRESS.COM

Airports Hit By Global IT Issue - Canada

Airports Hit By Global IT Issue - Canada

Porter Airlines staff direct travellers at Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto on Friday, July 19, 2024. Porter Airlines suspended flights until at least noon as a global tech outage affected flights at the airline. Photo by Christopher Katsarov/CP/ABACAPRESS.COM

Airports Hit By Global IT Issue - Canada

Airports Hit By Global IT Issue - Canada

Porter Airlines staff direct travellers at Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto on Friday, July 19, 2024. Porter Airlines suspended flights until at least noon as a global tech outage affected flights at the airline. Photo by Christopher Katsarov/CP/ABACAPRESS.COM

1st Beijing-Madrid-Havana flight arrives in Cuba

STORY: 1st Beijing-Madrid-Havana flight arrives in Cuba SHOOTING TIME: May 17, 2024 DATELINE: May 19, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:24 LOCATION: Havana CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the arrival STORYLINE: Local authorities said that the first flight to resume air links between Cuba and China arrived in Havana on Friday, with a stopover in Spain, which will enhance connectivity and facilitate exchanges between the two countries. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner of Air China was received at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana with the traditional water salute. Starting with two flights per week, it is hoped that the airline frequency will increase as passenger traffic between the two countries grows. There were no direct flights from China to Cuba until Air China resumed the Beijing-Madrid-Havana route, the only direct one between China and Cuba. The air links were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Havana. (XHTV)

Direct flights resume between Chengdu, Auckland

STORY: Direct flights resume between Chengdu, Auckland SHOOTING TIME: April 17, 2024 DATELINE: April 17, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:14 LOCATION: AUCKLAND, New Zealand CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Sichuan Airlines' aircraft arriving in Auckland 2. various of welcoming ceremony STORYLINE: The direct flights between China's Chengdu and Auckland of New Zealand officially resumed on Wednesday as a Sichuan Airlines' aircraft carrying over 200 Chinese tourists landed at the Auckland International Airport. The services had been suspended for more than four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. The Chinese tourists were welcome by a special ceremony featured with traditional Maori dance and singing at the airport on Wednesday afternoon. Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong said there are now six airlines in operation of direct flights between the two countries, involving seven Chinese cities. Rachel Maidment, the director of the Auckland office of the New Zealand Ministry of

Kenya Airways reintroduces direct flights to Mogadishu

STORY: Kenya Airways reintroduces direct flights to Mogadishu SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 15, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 17, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:58 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of direct flights to Mogadishu 2. SOUNDBITE (English): KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport 3. various of direct flights to Mogadishu STORYLINE: Kenya Airways (KQ) has relaunched direct flights to Mogadishu after a suspension on the route during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline had signed a bilateral agreement with Somalia in August 2023 to pave the way for direct flights into Somalia. Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Kipchumba Murkomen said the flights will enhance trade between Kenya and Somalia. SOUNDBITE (English): KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport "Therefore, this marks a great milestone coming just 185 days after the conclusion of signing of Kenya-Somali bilateral air service agreement. KQ was already flying to Somalia, but we ha

Direct flight links China's Shenzhen, Egypt's Cairo

STORY: Direct flight links China's Shenzhen, Egypt's Cairo SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 21, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 23, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:09 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the direct flight landing at Cairo International Airport (Courtesy of China's Hainan Airlines) STORYLINE: Direct flights between the southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen and Egypt's capital Cairo were launched on Sunday, as a flight of China's Hainan Airlines, carrying 253 passengers, landed at Cairo International Airport. The round-trip service, operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, is scheduled for every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. It's the first direct international airline route to an African destination launched by the carrier since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new route is expected to boost tourism and trade exchange between China and Egypt. A launch ceremony was held in Cairo late Sunday, attended by officials with the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, Egypt's Civil Aviation

Direct air route linking China's Dalian, Japan's Kitakyushu resumed

STORY: Direct air route linking China's Dalian, Japan's Kitakyushu resumed SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 8, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 10, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:36 LOCATION: DALIAN, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of flight GS7967 2. various of Dalian international airport 3. various of passengers in the terminal 4. various of flight GS7967 STORYLINE: A direct air route linking Dalian, a city in northeast China, and Japan's Kitakyushu was resumed on Monday, after a hiatus of almost four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tianjin Airlines, the operator of the air route, is scheduled to carry out flights on Mondays and Fridays, starting from Monday. The air route was launched in August 2019 and was suspended in February 2020. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of a sister city relationship between Dalian and Kitakyushu. The resumption of the air route will help strengthen personnel, economic and trade exchanges between northeast China and Kitakyushu, according to sources with the

China Eastern Airlines launches direct flights linking Shanghai, Cairo

STORY: China Eastern Airlines launches direct flights linking Shanghai, Cairo SHOOTING DATE: Dec. 11, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 13, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:17 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the launching ceremony 2. various of guests 3. Footage by China Eastern Airlines STORYLINE: China Eastern Airlines began operating direct flights between Shanghai and the Egyptian capital Cairo on Monday, the operator has announced. The new service makes three round trips per week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, it said, adding it was the first Chinese airline to operate the Shanghai-Cairo air route. The first flight departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with 232 passengers onboard. It arrived at Cairo International Airport at 7:19 am local time (0519 GMT) on Monday. A ceremony was held in Cairo late Monday to mark the launch of the first flight of the new air route, which was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang and Egypt's Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Abb

EGYPT-CAIRO-CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES-DIRECT FLIGHT-SHANGHAI

EGYPT-CAIRO-CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES-DIRECT FLIGHT-SHANGHAI

(231213) -- CAIRO, Dec. 13, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang delivers a speech at the launching ceremony of the first flight of the Shanghai-Cairo air route of the China Eastern Airlines in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 11, 2023. China Eastern Airlines began operating direct flights between Shanghai and the Egyptian capital Cairo on Monday, the operator has announced. The new service makes three round trips per week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, it said, adding it was the first Chinese airline to operate the Shanghai-Cairo air route. The first flight departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with 232 passengers onboard. It arrived at Cairo International Airport at 7:19 am local time (0519 GMT) on Monday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

EGYPT-CAIRO-CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES-DIRECT FLIGHT-SHANGHAI

EGYPT-CAIRO-CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES-DIRECT FLIGHT-SHANGHAI

(231213) -- CAIRO, Dec. 13, 2023 (Xinhua) -- The launching ceremony of the first flight of the Shanghai-Cairo air route of the China Eastern Airlines is held in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 11, 2023. China Eastern Airlines began operating direct flights between Shanghai and the Egyptian capital Cairo on Monday, the operator has announced. The new service makes three round trips per week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, it said, adding it was the first Chinese airline to operate the Shanghai-Cairo air route. The first flight departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with 232 passengers onboard. It arrived at Cairo International Airport at 7:19 am local time (0519 GMT) on Monday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

EGYPT-CAIRO-CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES-DIRECT FLIGHT-SHANGHAI

EGYPT-CAIRO-CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES-DIRECT FLIGHT-SHANGHAI

(231213) -- CAIRO, Dec. 13, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Abbas Helmy delivers a speech at the launching ceremony of the first flight of the Shanghai-Cairo air route of the China Eastern Airlines in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 11, 2023. China Eastern Airlines began operating direct flights between Shanghai and the Egyptian capital Cairo on Monday, the operator has announced. The new service makes three round trips per week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, it said, adding it was the first Chinese airline to operate the Shanghai-Cairo air route. The first flight departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with 232 passengers onboard. It arrived at Cairo International Airport at 7:19 am local time (0519 GMT) on Monday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Himalaya Airlines launches Kathmandu-Qingdao flight

STORY: Himalaya Airlines launches Kathmandu-Qingdao flight DATELINE: Sept. 11, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:31 LOCATION: Kathmandu CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Himalaya Airlines 2. various of the launching ceremony STORYLINE: Himalaya Airlines on Sunday started its inaugural flight from the Nepali capital of Kathmandu to Qingdao in Shandong Province of eastern China. The H97220 flight took off in the morning with 114 passengers aboard, and the return H97221 flight was scheduled to come back to Kathmandu in the evening. The airline is operating a round trip from Kathmandu to Qingdao on an A320 plane every Sunday. In June, the Kathmandu-based airline, a Nepal-China joint venture established in August 2014, resumed direct flights between Kathmandu and Beijing which were suspended for three years over the COVID-19. Every new air route added by Himalaya Airlines will bring new Chinese nationals to Nepal, and promote people-to-people exchanges and the tourism industry in Nepal, noted Chen Song, Ch

Madrid resumes 83 pct of direct flights to China

STORY: Madrid resumes 83 pct of direct flights to China DATELINE: July 14, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:36 LOCATION: Madrid CATEGORY: OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. various shots of Madrid and tourists 2. Hebei event in Madrid 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): ALMUDENA MAILLO, Delegate councilor for Tourism of the Madrid City Council 4. various shots of meeting between Madrid and Hebei province governments 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): ALMUDENA MAILLO, Delegate councilor for Tourism of the Madrid City Council 6. Chinese tourists in Madrid 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ZHAI YUHU, Vice Director of Culture and Tourism, Government of Hebei Province 8. Gift-giving ceremony STORYLINE: Eighty-three percent of the direct flights that had connected Spain's capital Madrid with China's major cities before the COVID-19 pandemic have already been resumed, Madrid City Council's Tourism Department said on Thursday. At a cultural and tourist interchange event co-organized in Madrid by the department and China's Hebei Province, Almudena Maillo, Madrid City's

Brunei welcomes 1st Chinese tourist group in 3 years

STORY: Brunei welcomes 1st Chinese tourist group in 3 years DATELINE: July 2, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:34 LOCATION: Bandar Seri Begawan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the welcome ceremony 2. Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Xiao Jianguo receiving interview 3. various of Chinese tourists STORYLINE: Brunei tourism authority and the Chinese embassy in Brunei held a warm ceremony at the international airport on Saturday to welcome the arrival of about 110 tourists from China. The arrival of Chinese tourists marked the reconnection between the two countries' capital cities through direct flights by Royal Brunei Airlines in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourists from China will help bring gradual resurrection to the tourism industry in the country, Dayang Salinah, acting director of the Tourism Development Department at Brunei's Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, told Xinhua. According to the Tourism Development Department, China is one of the top five countries in terms of tourist a

BRUNEI-BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN-CHINA-TOURISTS

BRUNEI-BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN-CHINA-TOURISTS

(230702) -- BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 2, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Tourists from Beijing pose for a group photo at Brunei International Airport in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, July 1, 2023. Brunei tourism authority and the Chinese Embassy in Brunei held a ceremony at the International Airport on Saturday to welcome the arrival of about 110 tourists from China. The arrival of Chinese tourists marked the reconnection between the two countries' capital cities through direct flights by Royal Brunei Airlines in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

BRUNEI-BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN-CHINA-TOURISTS

BRUNEI-BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN-CHINA-TOURISTS

(230702) -- BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 2, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Performers organized by Brunei tourism authority welcome Chinese tourists at Brunei International Airport in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, July 1, 2023. Brunei tourism authority and the Chinese Embassy in Brunei held a ceremony at the International Airport on Saturday to welcome the arrival of about 110 tourists from China. The arrival of Chinese tourists marked the reconnection between the two countries' capital cities through direct flights by Royal Brunei Airlines in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

Afghans welcome flight resumption between Afghanistan, China

STORY: Afghans welcome flight resumption between Afghanistan, China DATELINE: May 28, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:08 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the flight from Kabul to Urumqi at Kabul International Airport in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): MOHAMMAD YOUNUS MOHMAND, Head of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment 3. various shots of Kabul International Airport in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): GHULAM JILANI WAFA, Deputy head of Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Aviation STORYLINE: A direct flight route linking Afghanistan and China resumed on Wednesday, following three years of suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The flights between the Afghan capital Kabul and the Chinese city of Urumqi were operated by Afghan flag carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines. The passenger air services operate once in a week on Wednesday and return to Kabul on the same day. The flights are expected to enhance trade and economic relations between the

Direct flights between Taiwan, Fuzhou resume

STORY: Direct flights between Taiwan, Fuzhou resume DATELINE: May 23, 2023 LENGTH: 0:00:50 LOCATION: FUZHOU, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the airport 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LAI SE CHEN, Director General of Taiwan Tourism Exchange Association STORYLINE: Direct flights between Taiwan and Fuzhou resumed on Monday with Xiamen Airlines providing the first direct flight between Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, and Taipei. The route was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since direct air routes across the Taiwan Strait started in 2008, a total of 31,000 flights have been operated between Taiwan and Fuzhou, with more than 3.41 million passenger trips made. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LAI SE CHEN, Director General of Taiwan Tourism Exchange Association "Fuzhou is a place that many people from Taiwan like traveling to. I hope the flight resumption by Xiamen Airlines would be good news for the tourism industry and for people on both sides (of the Taiwan Strai

Direct flights resume between Beijing and Auckland, New Zealand

STORY: Direct flights resume between Beijing and Auckland, New Zealand DATELINE: May 3, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: Auckland CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese tourists arriving at the Auckland International Airport. STORYLINE: The direct flights between Beijing and Auckland in New Zealand officially resumed on Tuesday as an Air China aircraft carrying over 200 Chinese tourists landed at the Auckland International Airport. The services had been suspended for more than three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. The Chinese tourists were welcomed by a special ceremony featured with traditional Maori dance and singing at the airport on Tuesday afternoon. Currently, direct flights are conducted between Beijing and Auckland four times every week, according to Air China. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Auckland. (XHTV)

Direct flights between China's Xiamen, Myanmar's Yangon resume after COVID-19 hiatus

STORY: Direct flights between China's Xiamen, Myanmar's Yangon resume after COVID-19 hiatus DATELINE: April 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:31 LOCATION: YANGON, Myanmar CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the resumption of Xiamen-Yangon direct flights 2. various of the Yangon International Airport STORYLINE: A commercial flight operated by China's Xiamen Airlines landed at the Yangon International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, marking the resumption of direct passenger flights between China's Xiamen and Myanmar's Yangon since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Xiamen Airlines reopened the route between Xiamen in east China's Fujian Province and Yangon in southern Myanmar with three round trips every Monday, Wednesday and Friday after it suspended all direct flights between the two cities in February 2020. The resumption of the flights aims to boost economic and people-to-people exchanges between Fujian and Myanmar, the airlines said in a statement. Myanmar reopened the Yangon International A

London-Xi'an direct flight resumes

STORY: London-Xi'an direct flight resumes DATELINE: April 24, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:28 LOCATION: London CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Heathrow Airport 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CARL ROSENBERG, Passenger 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MARK HARDMAN, Services manager at Terminal Three of Heathrow Airport STORYLINE: A direct flight route linking London and Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province resumed on Sunday, after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first flight took off from Heathrow Airport on Sunday evening. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CARL ROSENBERG, Passenger "To Xi'an, to visit family, my wife's family. It's much easier especially traveling with children. My son is almost three and a half (years old). It's the first time for him." The intercontinental route, operated by China's Tianjin Airlines, has transported more than 75,000 passengers since its launch in May 2018. With the resumption of the route, the airline has also launched connecting flights from over 50 dom

Foreign entries to Japan up 27.5 pct in March

STORY: Foreign entries to Japan up 27.5 pct in March DATELINE: April 20, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:42 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of foreign visitors in Tokyo STORYLINE: The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in March went up by 27.5 percent year on year to total 1,817,500, government data showed Wednesday. This marked the highest since the country lifted its pandemic-prompted ban on individual and non-prearranged trips last October, the Japan National Tourism Organization said. Despite signs of recovery, the monthly figure was still 34.2 percent lower than the level seen in March 2019 before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the organization. It said arrivals from South Korea comprised the largest number of visitors totaling 568,600 in March, while the number of U.S. visitors stood at 203,000. Visitors from the Chinese mainland doubled from the February figure to reach 75,700 last month, thanks to a growing number of direct flights between the two count

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

(230328) -- ROME, March 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People attend a ceremony marking the resumption of Air China direct flights between Rome and Beijing at the Fiumicino airport in Rome, Italy, March 27, 2023. Air China resumed its direct flights between Beijing and Rome on Monday after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Jin Mamengni)

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

(230328) -- ROME, March 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Passengers wait to board an Air China direct flight to Beijing at the Fiumicino airport in Rome, Italy, March 27, 2023. Air China resumed its direct flights between Beijing and Rome on Monday after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Jin Mamengni)

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

(230328) -- ROME, March 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- The first resumed direct flight from Beijing to Rome arrives at the Fiumicino airport in Rome, Italy, March 27, 2023. Air China resumed its direct flights between Beijing and Rome on Monday after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Jin Mamengni)

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

(230328) -- ROME, March 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Passengers board an Air China direct flight to Beijing at the Fiumicino airport in Rome, Italy, March 27, 2023. Air China resumed its direct flights between Beijing and Rome on Monday after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Jin Mamengni)

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

(230328) -- ROME, March 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People pose for a group photo to celebrate the resumption of Air China direct flights between Rome and Beijing at the Fiumicino airport in Rome, Italy, March 27, 2023. Air China resumed its direct flights between Beijing and Rome on Monday after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Jin Mamengni)

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

ITALY-ROME-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

(230328) -- ROME, March 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A staff member presents souvenirs to Chinese passengers arriving at the Fiumicino airport in Rome, Italy, March 27, 2023. Air China resumed its direct flights between Beijing and Rome on Monday after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua)

Chinese, Dutch airlines resume direct flights to Beijing

STORY: Chinese, Dutch airlines resume direct flights to Beijing DATELINE: March 27, 2023 LENGTH: 0:00:41 LOCATION: Amsterdam CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese and Dutch airlines resuming direct flights to Beijing STORYLINE: Chinese, Dutch airlines resumed their direct flights from Amsterdam to Beijing on Sunday after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At a boarding gate at Schiphol Airport to a fully-booked China Southern Airlines flight to Beijing, passengers were presented with colorful wooden tulip flowers as gifts to mark the memorable occasion. The passengers departed from the Schiphol Airport at 8:40 p.m. local time and were scheduled to arrive at Beijing Daxing International Airport after a 10-hour flight. Wilco Sweijen, airline partnerships director at Schiphol Airport, told Xinhua that it was the first time that the airport was having a flight between Beijing Daxing and Amsterdam. "We're very happy with that, because now that the (Chinese) capital is connected ag

THE NETHERLANDS-AMSTERDAM-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

THE NETHERLANDS-AMSTERDAM-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

(230327) -- AMSTERDAM, March 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Staff members of Schiphol Airport present tulip-themed souvenirs to passengers boarding a China Southern Airlines direct flight to Beijing at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, March 26, 2023. Chinese, Dutch airlines resumed their direct flights from Amsterdam to Beijing on Sunday after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Wang Xiangjiang)

THE NETHERLANDS-AMSTERDAM-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

THE NETHERLANDS-AMSTERDAM-BEIJING-DIRECT FLIGHTS-RESUMPTION

(230327) -- AMSTERDAM, March 27, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Staff members of China Southern Airlines present a tulip-themed souvenir to a passenger boarding a direct flight to Beijing at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, March 26, 2023. Chinese, Dutch airlines resumed their direct flights from Amsterdam to Beijing on Sunday after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Wang Xiangjiang)

St. Petersburg resumes direct flights to Beijing

STORY: St. Petersburg resumes direct flights to Beijing DATELINE: Feb. 20, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:54 LOCATION: ST. PETERSBURG, Russia CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg (Source: TASS) 2. various of airplanes STORYLINE: An Airbus 330 aircraft operated by China's Hainan Airlines flew from Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg to Beijing Capital Airport on Sunday, marking the resumption of direct flights from Russia's second-largest city to the Chinese capital after nearly three years of halt. According to the current plan, Hainan Airlines will operate the flights once a week on Sundays. The Civil Aviation Administration of China announced that the country had resumed regular passenger flights with 58 countries after it removed certain COVID-19 restrictions on international passenger flights from Jan. 8, 2023. It said that the number of countries handling flights to or from China and airlines operating these flights resumed to 64 percent and 80 percent, respectively, of

EgyptAir to increase weekly Cairo-Moscow flights

STORY: EgyptAir to increase weekly Cairo-Moscow flights DATELINE: Dec. 19, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:51 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of an office building of EgyptAir 2. various of EgyptAir planes at an airport 3. various of Russian tourists arriving at an airport STORYLINE: EgyptAir, the flag carrier of Egypt, has announced that it will increase its weekly flights from Cairo to Moscow from 11 to 14, starting from Dec. 18, on Sunday. EgyptAir also announced that it is currently coordinating with travel agents to increase direct flights between Moscow and the Red Sea resort cities of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada to 28 flights per week starting 2023, up from 10 flights currently. EgyptAir said the move aims to increase Russian tourists visiting Egypt's Red Sea resorts. Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa said on Friday that the number of Russian tourists to Egypt has doubled from June to October compared to earlier this year. Egypt is among the top five destinations

Japan envoy, Okinawa governor meet in Beijing

Japan envoy, Okinawa governor meet in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa (L) and Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima shake hands at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on Aug. 19, 2010. Nakaima asked Niwa to help realize direct flights between Okinawa and Beijing to lure more Chinese tourists to the island prefecture.

Budget airline Jetstar launches Tokyo-Australia flights

Budget airline Jetstar launches Tokyo-Australia flights

NARITA, Japan - The first flight of Australian budget airline Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd. arrives at New Tokyo International Airport, northeast of Tokyo, from Cairns on Dec. 18. Jetstar will operate 19 direct flights between the two countries, offering daily flights between Narita and Cairns, and five flights between Narita and the Gold Coast each week.

Direct passenger flight resumes between Chinese mainland, Israel after COVID-19 hiatus

STORY: Direct passenger flight resumes between Chinese mainland, Israel after COVID-19 hiatus DATELINE: Nov. 30, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:45 LOCATION: Jerusalem CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Ben Gurion Airport 2. various of Hainan Airlines passenger plane arriving 3. various of passengers walking out of cabin 4. various of the terminal 5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): WEI RAN, General manager of Hainan Airlines' Israel branch STORYLINE: A commercial flight operated by China's Hainan Airlines landed at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on Tuesday morning, marking the resumption of direct passenger flight between the Chinese mainland and Israel since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hainan Airlines reopened the route between Shenzhen in southern China and Israel's Tel Aviv with one round trip every Tuesday after it suspended all direct flights between the Chinese mainland and Israel in February 2020. The flight is carried out by a Boeing 787 aircraft. Wei Ran, general manager

Shanghai-Budapest direct passenger flights resume

STORY: Shanghai-Budapest direct passenger flights resume DATELINE: Nov. 12, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:03 LOCATION: Budapest CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of passengers queuing for check-in 2. various of passengers queuing for boarding 3. various of the flight crew celebrating with a special cake 4. various of flight departure STORYLINE: Direct passenger flights by China Eastern Airlines have resumed between China's Shanghai and Budapest in Hungary. A passenger plane that took off from Shanghai landed in Budapest on Friday. According to the Budapest office of China Eastern Airlines, the direct flights are scheduled to fly once a week on Fridays from Nov. 11. They will fly twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays from Dec. 21, and three flights per week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from Jan. 15, 2023. The direct flights from Shanghai to Budapest were launched in June 2019 and were suspended in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The resumed route is the second non-stop passenger r

EgyptAir reopens direct flights between Sharm El-Sheikh, Tripoli after 8-year hiatus

STORY: EgyptAir reopens direct flights between Sharm El-Sheikh, Tripoli after 8-year hiatus DATELINE: Aug. 10, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:19 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport 2. exterior of a building that has a board reading: EgyptAir In-flight Services 3. various of logo of EgyptAir company 4. various of an airport 5. various of EgyptAir planes at an airport STORYLINE: After an 8-year hiatus, EgyptAir's first flight, coming from Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport, arrived at Libya's Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli on Tuesday. The flag carrier's flights will continue until Oct. 11 to transport groups of tourists from Libya to the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh. EgyptAir will operate a weekly flight between the two airports on board a Boeing B737-800 aircraft, which is capable of carrying up to 154 passengers, to promote Libyan tourism flow to Egypt. In September 2021, Egypt and Libya resumed flights from Tripoli to Cairo

Hungary, China resume regular passenger flights

STORY: Hungary, China resume regular passenger flights DATELINE: July 8, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:52 LOCATION: Budapest CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Budapest Airport exterior 2. various of plane arriving at Budapest Airport 3. passengers check in STORYLINE: A direct flight from Beijing landed at Budapest's Ferenc Liszt International Airport Thursday, marking the official resumption of regular passenger flights between Hungary and China. Direct air links between the two countries were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. According to plans, the Beijing-Budapest flight will be operated by Air China every Thursday. Peter Szijjarto, Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on his Facebook page earlier that the decision to resume the Beijing-Budapest flight is a milestone that will promote tourism, trade and the overall Hungarian economy. Air China launched the first direct passenger flight between the capitals of China and Hungary on May 1, 2015. Xinhua News Agency cor

Budget airline Jetstar launches Tokyo-Australia flights

Budget airline Jetstar launches Tokyo-Australia flights

NARITA, Japan - The first flight of Australian budget airline Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd. arrives at New Tokyo International Airport, northeast of Tokyo, from Cairns on Dec. 18. Jetstar will operate 19 direct flights between the two countries, offering daily flights between Narita and Cairns, and five flights between Narita and the Gold Coast each week. (Kyodo)

Japan envoy, Okinawa governor meet in Beijing

Japan envoy, Okinawa governor meet in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa (L) and Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima shake hands at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on Aug. 19, 2010. Nakaima asked Niwa to help realize direct flights between Okinawa and Beijing to lure more Chinese tourists to the island prefecture. (Kyodo)