Chinese transportation firm Hainan Airlines is slated to begin nonstop flights from Beijing to Las Vegas, a first-time-ever service cleared by the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin in December 2016. The flights will operate on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and Las Vegas convention and visitor officials say it will be a boon for the Las Vegas economy.
“We are extremely proud to welcome Hainan Airlines to Las Vegas with their convenient, premium-service for Chinese visitors,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “China is an area where we have seen steady growth in visitation and we will continue to focus on experiences and amenities that cater to our Chinese guests. With these first-ever flights from China to Las Vegas, we are anticipating more than $33.5 million in annual economic impact.”
Hosting the lion’s share of U.S. trade shows, Las Vegas will also likely see an uptick in participation from Chinese attendees and exhibitors who can now reach the city from mainland China in 12 hours rather than using multi-segment flights that can take 20 hours or more. Las Vegas McCarran International Airport officials say nonstop international service is increasingly important in order to attract international visitors, and that China has long been one of their most sought-after markets.
