Delta Airlines ceremoniously launches its inaugural nonstop flight to Hong Kong. (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)
Delta Airlines celebrated the launch of its new nonstop service from Seattle to Hong Kong on June 16, with a ribbon-cutting, water cannon salute, and traditional dragon dance at its Sea-Tac Airport gate. Soon after, the inaugural flight took off.
Attending the ceremony were Mike Medeiros, vice president of Delta in Seattle; Courtney Gregoire, Port of Seattle Commission co-president; Mark Reis, managing director at Sea-Tac Airport; Sabrina Chow, director at Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office; Benjamin Lee, president emeritus at Hong Kong Association of Washington; and Tom Norwalk, president and CEO at Visit Seattle.
According to Delta, there were 51,505 travelers from China to Seattle in 2012. That number increased by 46 percent in 2013, for a total of 75,244 travelers. By comparison, the number of travelers from Japan to Seattle has remained fairly steady, going from 74,544 in 2012 to 79,459 in 2013. (end)