Heathrow welcomed Air China’s thrice weekly service to Chengdu
- Heathrow welcomes new services to Chengdu, the 12th Chinese route on the airport’s network
- New report shows £7.3 billion worth of exports went through Heathrow to China in 2018 – a 135% increase from previous year
- Heathrow data also reveals the value of top exports to China in 2018 – including over £100 million worth of art and over £30 million of clothing, accessories and shoes
LONDON, UK, 2019-Apr-04 — /Travel PR News/ — Heathrow today (02 April, 2019) has welcomed Air China’s thrice weekly service to Chengdu, home to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base and Sichuan Cuisine. The launch of the service comes as new CEBR research shows a remarkable rise in the value of Chinese exports via Heathrow.
Heathrow’s new route to Chengdu is the airport’s 12th direct connection to China. The number of Chinese connections via the UK’s hub airport has more than doubled since the start of 2018, when there were just five routes available. To fly to Chengdu, Air China will use an A330-200 aircraft facilitating the transport of 80,000 passengers a year and 3,744 tonnes of cargo between China and the UK.
Heathrow’s latest Trade Tracker, by economic analysts CEBR, shows that while China’s own exports have decreased, the exports to China from Heathrow are not showing any sign of slowing down. China is now the third most valuable export destination from the airport, following the US and the EU. Exports via Heathrow to China have grown in value by 135% in 2018 compared to 2017, totalling over £7 billion. The same analysis shows that, on average, every operational hour at Heathrow sees nearly £10 million of exports fly out across the world.
An analysis of Heathrow cargo data value reveals the top exports flying via the airport to China in 2018. The top annual export, pharmaceuticals, was valued at an astounding US$461.05 million. Other top exports by value include:
1. Aerospace materials – US $334.24 million
2. Art – US $151.9 million
3. Computers – US $67.69 million
4. Clothing and fashion accessories – US $29.8 million
5. Footwear – US $12.6 million
By identifying efficiencies and gaps in schedules, Heathrow has been able to accommodate new routes to China. However, this is a limited and piecemeal approach. Expansion of Heathrow, the UK’s only hub airport and biggest port by value, will allow Britain the opportunity to build and maintain the vitally important trade connections to China the country needs, especially with a future outside the EU.
Heathrow’s Chief Commercial Officer Ross Baker said:
“Each plane flown from Heathrow to China not only carries passengers, but also the best of UK fashion, art and industry exports in its bellyhold. As we plan for a future outside of the EU, growing connections from Heathrow, the UK’s biggest port by value, to cities like Chengdu, is essential to keep our country an outward-looking trading nation.”
Notes to Editors:
About Heathrow
Heathrow is the UK’s hub airport, home to more than 80 airlines connecting to more than 200 destinations. Every year Heathrow welcomes over 75 million passengers with a commitment to ‘making every journey better’. Following an investment of more than £11 billion over the past 10 years, passengers have voted Heathrow the ‘Best Airport in Western Europe’ two years in a row, ‘Best Airport Terminal’ for the Terminal 5 five years in a row and ‘Best Airport for Shopping’ seven years in a row.
About Air China
Air China was one of six airlines created by the Chinese government in 1988. Since then it has become the exclusive flag carrier for civil aviation. The traditional Chinese red of the logo symbolises auspiciousness, completion, peace and happiness. Air China operates from Heathrow’s Terminal 2 and is a Star Alliance Member.
Flight Details
| Destination | Airline | Aircraft | Seats | Terminal | DoW | Arrival | Departure | Annual Seats | Annual Cargo Tonnes |
| Chengdu | Air China | A330-200 | 265 (18 business/ 247 economy) | 2 | Tues/Thurs/
Sat |
16:45 | 22:00 | 80,000 | 3,744 |
About Heathrow’s Trade Tracker Report
Heathrow’s Trade Tracker is a quarterly index, commissioned by Heathrow and carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), an independent economics and business research consultancy. Using eight measures, the Tracker outlines Heathrow’s own trade position, estimates the value of exports from Heathrow and evaluates the health of the UK’s export prospects. The Trade Tracker is the first of its kind and will become increasingly important as the Government moves to establish a new trading strategy outside of the EU.
Contact:
Press Office
0208 745 7224
Source: Heathrow Airport
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