Chinese and Seattle-area officials gathered for the press event in China, announcing the Xiamen-Seattle services.
SEATTLE — There will be six nonstop flights from Seattle to China with a new Xiamen route starting September 26.
The announcement was made May 11 during a press conference in Shenzhen, China, involving the Port of Seattle, the City of Seattle, and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
“Service between the two leading technology centers of Shenzhen and Seattle is a very important addition to the Port of Seattle’s direct flights throughout Asia,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman. “We value Xiamen Airlines’ commitment to connecting our region’s leisure and business travelers to new opportunities with state of the art Boeing 787 airplanes. Our goal of being a world-class international airport not only refers to customer service, but also reaching new and diverse parts of the world.”
The aircraft route will begin in the city of Xiamen, and then shuttle to Shenzhen before making the nonstop flight to Seattle. Xiamen Airlines, who operates the largest all-Boeing fleet in China, will serve the route three times a week.
“The City of Seattle is excited to welcome Xiamen Airlines and the people of Shenzhen,” Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said. “Seattle and Shenzhen are both global centers of technology and innovation, and the addition of direct air service will be a significant benefit as we continue to strengthen our international ties, create new opportunities for economic growth, and promote tourism between our two cities.”
The six total nonstop routes out of Sea-Tac also include flights with Delta Air Lines and Hainan Airlines.
The new Xiamen Airline service, on top of existing direct flights to Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, reflects the growing links between Washington state and China.