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All Things Travel: China Air Service Grows From Boston

BOSTON (CBS) – Business to Beijing is booming.

That was the message delivered loud and clear at a Wednesday luncheon titled "International Trends: The China-Massachusetts Opportunity" held across the harbor
from Logan Airport at the Seaport Hotel.

The event featured a panel discussion moderated by Massport CEO Tom Glynn and featured MIT Professor Yasheng Huang; Lin Yang, founder and President, Innovation Ideas Institute; and Barbara Jones, partner, Greenberg Institute. All three are experts with long experience of doing business with China.

Pubin Liang, Managing Director of North America for Hainan Airlines gave the opening remarks.

The event was co-sponsored by The Associated Industries of Massachusetts and Massport.

Nine month figures released by Massport this week show what the start-up of Hainan Airlines has meant to passenger traffic at Logan Airport.

Through September, total airline passengers have increased by 4.8 percent to 23,992,298. Trans pacific flyers totaled 119,604 an increase of 58 percent over last year when Japan Airlines flew the only Asia route to Tokyo.

Yasheng Huang of MIT summed it up best. He travels to China and Hong Kong eight or nine times a year,

"I am an enormous customer of United Airlines, only by default," said Huang. "Hainan is now the most innovative airline in China with direct service from Boston."

Hainan started flights from an island off the coast of China 20 years ago. The company now also operates hotels and shipping companies.

During the session speakers delivered the message that Massachusetts' large student population, along with the reputation of Harvard and MIT, were crucial in bringing both tourists and business people here.

The success of the Boston-Beijing flights can be seen in added flights over the winter holidays. Hainan which will basically operate four weekly round-trip flights during the winter season will add daily service starting December 15. On December 18, 19 and 20, Hainan will have daily double service from Logan Airport.

Joel Chusid, Managing Director-North America for Hainan noted that the time needed for the Chinese to get a visa to visit the United States used to take months. It now takes just four days.

And the good news for international travelers is expected to continue. Governor Deval Patrick told this reporter last week that his office expected to announce another new international carrier serving Logan before he leaves office in January.

Bob Weiss also reports on travel for WBZ News Radio

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