There is a growing Chinese presence at Copenhagen Airport. The Sichuan Airlines route to the panda capital of Chengdu is the third new route to China to start operations in 2018. This means that next year there will be 88% more seats for sale on direct flights between China and Denmark.
It also means that more Chinese tourists and business travellers can select Denmark as a destination and as a first stop-over on tours of Denmark and Northern Europe. According to Rasmus Jarlov, Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, this is great news:
This year, more than 110,000 Chinese tourists arrived in Denmark at Copenhagen Airport, which provides such features as Chinese signage and an app, Chinese guides and the option of using Chinese credit cards. The new route means the Airport can look forward to even more Chinese travellers.
Invest in Denmark and Copenhagen Capacity have actively worked to attract the new route by providing Sichuan Airlines with advice and support in the process.
China is Denmark’s 6th largest export market for goods, and Danish investments into China have increased by 600 % since 2004. The improved connectivity will further enhance the business opportunities and tourist travel between the two countries and consequently create a significant positive impact on indirect job creation and GDP on both sides.
Today, Chengdu, the former ancient capital of China, is the cultural and financial centre of South Western China. The city is also known as ‘home of the pandas’. It is the location of the special panda farm which will next year provide two pandas for a newly-built enclosure in Copenhagen Zoo in the district of Frederiksberg.
Sichuan Airlines – Facts
- The route between Chengdu and Copenhagen operates an Airbus A330-300 with seating for 301 passengers.
- There are two departures a week on Mondays and Fridays. The flight lands in Copenhagen at 05:45 and departs again at 13:10. The flight time is 9 hours and 50 minutes.
- Sichuan Airlines, a private airline based in Chengdu, was founded in 1986 by China Eastern, China Southern and Shandong Airlines.
- The new route will now enable Danish companies and holidaymakers to choose Chengdu as a Chinese hub for transferring to one of the airline company’s 70+ destinations in China and Asia.
- Sichuan Airlines started life as a domestic airline, but has since opened routes to other countries in Asia and now long-haul routes to both Europe and the United States. Copenhagen is the company’s third destination in Europe.
