Seattle will be more accessible from Xiamen via the new non-stop flight from Xiamen Air. (Photo : Getty Images)
For the first time, Xiamen Airlines flew to the U.S. and begins its nonstop route to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The airline's first flight touched down at Sea-Tac Airport on Monday from Shenzhen. Xiamen Air is now flying to Seattle from Shenzhen three times a week using the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.
The new leg is the 15th international destination that can be reached from Sea-Tac Airport.
"The service marks the first U.S. nonstop destination for Xiamen. Today's announcement marks Sea-Tac Airport's 15th new international destination in the past 10 years," according to the website.
The new China to U.S. route is expected to continue the growing passenger visits to Seattle. The Sea-Tac airport has been the fastest growing American hub for the past two years.
Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman said, "Sea-Tac Airport is one of the most connected gateways to Asia and it is an honor that Xiamen chose Seattle to launch its U.S. service."
He added, "Shenzhen is known as the 'Silicon Valley' of China and this new destination will be a tremendous opportunity for both business and leisure travelers to experience our shared values. We commend Xiamen for using the state-of-the-art Boeing 787, which furthers the Port of Seattle's goals of being the greenest and most energy efficient port while advancing our region as a business and tourism hub."
Xiamen Airlines chairman and general manager Che Shanglun expressed excitement over the new venture of the airline.
He said, "The launch of the Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service is an important reflection of the results of the meeting between Chinese and American leaders. On the heels of these events, a Fuzhou-New York and a Xiamen-LA service will also be initiated, making air travel, and, by consequence, exchanges between the two countries much easier."
