Air China to Introduce 777-300ER on Los Angeles Route

Posted 13/01/2012

Air China has confirmed that it will start using its new Boeing 777-300ERs on its Beijing – Los Angeles route from next month.  The Asian flag carrier now operates four of the type having taken delivery of aircraft in July, August, October and December last year.  It has a further 15 example on direct order from the US manufacturer.

The carrier is the sole operator on the Beijing – Los Angeles route, a market of an estimated 199,000 O&D passengers and currently offers eleven flights per week, all operated using Boeing 747-400s.  However, from February 1, 2012 the 777-300ER will replace the 747-400 on a daily basis, although Air China will continue to use the 747s on its four additional weekly rotations.  From June 1, 2012 Air China plans to further upgrade the route to a double daily frequency with all 14 flights operated by 777-300ERs following the delivery of additional equipment.

“With its numerous performance enhancements in the range and payload capabilities, the B777-300ER is the perfect aircraft for the Los Angeles-Beijing route,” said Dr Zhihang Chi, Vice President & General Manager for North America, Air China.  “The upgrade enhances Air China’s advantage in the highly competitive Los Angeles market.” 

Air China currently also uses the 777-300ER on three times daily domestic flights from Beijing to Guangzhou as well as on both of its daily rotations to Frankfurt, although it will reintroduce the 747-400 on one of the two flights from February 2, 2012, freeing up an airframe for the Los Angeles service.  The aircraft are configured in a 308-seat arrangement with 8 Forbidden Pavilion first class suites, 41 fully flat Capital Pavilion Business Class seats and 259 Economy seats.

With additional 777-300ERs due for delivery in 2012 and 2013 Air China is now working on which future routes will receive the aircraft.  It already plans to also introduce the type on its daily Beijing – Paris CDG route from March 9, 2012 replacing the Airbus A330s and A340s that currently serve this market, but Dr Chi suggests that its other US destinations will receive the aircraft. 

Later this year or in early 2013, our New York and San Francisco routes are expected to be upgraded to the same aircraft as well,” he said.  Air China currently offers six flights per week to both US cities from Beijing using 747-400s.

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