Air China links world’s two high-tech cities

Air China has finally launched nonstop flights between Shanghai and San Jose, thus linking world’s two high-tech cities. The flights became operational early September this year. The Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Mineta San Jose International Airport would be served with thrice weekly service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The inaugural flight from Shanghai to San Jose was welcomed by San Jose airport officials, San Jose Mayor, China’s Consul General in San Francisco and top officials of Air China. The lion dancers wearing colorful costumes regaled the audience present to welcome the arrival of the maiden flight.

Air China has deployed a modern Airbus A330-200 aircraft configured with a total of 237 seats to conduct nonstop flights between the two destinations. The aircraft is equipped with 30 full flat bed seats in business class cabin and 207 seats in economy class.

The launch of flights to San Jose makes it the airline’s tenth gateway in North America, while Mineta San Jose International Airport has become the airline’s eighth nonstop international route.

Sam Liccardo, Mayor of San Jose, while welcoming the new service, said, “Air China should be congratulated for launching the nonstop flights between San Jose and Shanghai. This also marks an additional milestone for the airline with its first flight to North America from Shanghai via Silicon Valley’s Mineta San Jose International Airport.”

Liccardo further stated that it is great that Air China enthusiastically responded to the growing demands of technology companies in San Jose for a nonstop service. It is hoped that with the support of the corporate the nonstop flight to Shanghai, China’s key center of commerce and trade, would prove to be highly successful.

Media reports quoting a corporate survey held by SJC’s community partners said that Shanghai consistently ranked as the top five most sought after international business destinations by travelers from Silicon Valley. The new service by Air China is expected to attract an estimated $65 million economic investment annually to the San Jose area.