On Thursday 9 February, the first flight of Air China returned to Geneva Airport after the interruption of the route due to the pandemic. This first flight left Beijing at 13:25 local time, arriving in Geneva a few minutes before the official time of 17:45. The return flight to China then departed two hours later on an overnight journey.
To welcome the symbolic return of this route, a dozen officials and guests were present, representing the diplomatic, economic and tourist circles of the region. All the participants noted the importance of this new link with China, in the framework of bilateral exchanges and for international Geneva. It also allow
s tourism to resume in both directions and for families to reunite after several years of separation.
This route will continue at a rate of one frequency per week for the time being, to meet a gradual recovery in demand. Air China then plans to operate three weekly frequencies from the 2023 summer season, starting in late March. The flights will then be operated in the morning to and from Geneva, in order to ensure even better connections at Beijing airport for domestic flights and to the rest of Asia.
The
air cargo industry has also been looking forward to this flight, given the demand for goods from and to China.
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Photo caption (from left to right):
- Claude MEMBREZ, General Manager, Palexpo
- Michael KLEINER, Delegate for Economic Development, Canton of Geneva
- Jun MAO, Chargé d'affaires, Chinese Embassy in Berne
- George GE, Director for Switzerland, Air China
- Jean-Vital DOMEZON, President , Hoteliers de Genève
- Yves-Daniel VIREDAZ, Head of Marketing & business development, Geneva Airport