Waste cooking oil helps power 1,000 km flight in China

Waste cooking oil may soon become part of travel plans. A regularly scheduled Hainan Airlines flight has carried more than 100 passengers from Shanghai to Beijing in a Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft, a distance of over 1,000 km using a fuel blend that includes biofuel made by Sinopec from waste cooking oil collected from restaurants in China. Both of the airplane's CFM International CFM56-7B engines were powered by a fuel blend of approximately 50% aviation biofuel mixed with conventional petroleum jet fuel.

Sustainably produced biofuel, which reduces carbon emissions by 50 to 80% compared to petroleum through its lifecycle, is expected to play a key role in supporting aviation's growth while meeting environmental goals. 

Said Pu Ming, VP of Hainan Airlines, who piloted the plane: "As a fast-growing domestic and international carrier, Hainan Airlines is demonstrating our environmental commitment by showing that aviation biofuel can play a safe and effective role in China's air transport system."

"Boeing is proud to advance its decades-long partnership with China by collaborating closely with Hainan Airlines and Sinopec to achieve this significant milestone," said Ian Thomas, President, Boeing China. "We thank and congratulate our partners, whose teamwork, vision and commitment to sustainable aviation are helping to improve our industry and our environment for the long term."

Added Sinopec spokesperson Lv Dapeng: "For many years, Sinopec has maintained a leadership role in China in terms of the development and application of biomass fuel including aviation biofuel and bio-diesel. This fully represents an earnest commitment from Sinopec to continuously advance scientific and technological innovation and promote green and low-emission development."

Hainan Airlines expands Change for Good to more flights

Source: Hainan Airlines. Hainan 

Airlines flight attendants 

distributing Change for Good 

donation bags to passengers.

Hainan Airlines is expanding a successful onboard giving programme, Change for Good, to all flights on an additional 16 routes. The airline launched this programme in September 2013 on its Beijing-Haikou route to support UNICEF's work for children.

Hainan Airlines is the first mainland China-based carrier to join UNICEF's Change for Good alliance. The airline aims to raise at least RMB10 million over five years starting September 2013. As of August 31, 2014, it had raised RMB2 million, which will be transferred to UNICEF.

The additional routes include domestic flights Beijing to and from Guiyang, Sanya, and Nanning; Haikou-Zhengzhou, and Haikou-Pudong; Guangzhou to and from Qinhuangdao, Qingdao, Weifang, Dongying as well as international flights Beijing-Chicago, Seattle,Toronto, Boston, Berlin, Moscow, and St Petersburg.

The spokesperson for Hainan Airlines said, "After a one-year pilot launch on the Beijing-Haikou route, based on performance and passenger participation, we have decided to expand this programme across an additional 16 routes, in a move to invite more of our passengers to join in the Change for Good programme and voluntarily give to support UNICEF's work for children."

A passenger on flight HU495 from Beijing to Seattle said, "I have donated RMB10, and this is the first time I have taken part in a charitable activity aboard a flight. Although it is a small sum, I believe that little by little, it will turn into a substantial resource that can be used to improve the lives of children."

With the expansion from one to 17 routes, Hainan Airlines has taken a big step to ensure the success of Change for Good, demonstrating its willingness to commit its support to children's welfare, as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Change for Good, established in 1991, is a partnership between UNICEF and the international airline industry. The programme appeals to travellers to donate onboard the aircraft, to help UNICEF to improve the lives of children, and to help them to develop to their fullest potential. So far, Change for Good has raised over US$120 million funds globally in partnership with 11 international airlines including Cathay Pacific Airways.

Hainan Airlines introduces flights from China to France

Hainan Airlines has added a fifth European route following its routes to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Brussels and Berlin. The inaugural Hainan Airlines flight HU7907 took off from Hangzhou International Airport on September 3, making a stop at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, then heading on to Paris' Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport. 

Source: Hainan Airlines. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first flight on September 3.

The launch of the service will provide new opportunities for further political, economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and France, as 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries.

The flight is twice-weekly: 

Wednesdays and Saturdays 

HU7907 Departs Hangzhou 8:50pm; arrives Xi'an 11:10pm

Thursdays and Sundays

HU7907 Departs Xi'an 1:00am; arrives Paris 6:55am 

HU7908 Departs Paris 2.25pm; arrives Xi'an 6:45am, the next day

Fridays and Mondays

HU7908 Departs Xi'an at 8:45am; arrives Hangzhou 10:50am 

All arrival and departure times are local.

The route will be operated using an Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft. The plane seats 36 in Business Class and 186 in Economy Class. The Business cabin is configured with 180-degree flat-bed seats with built-in gentle massage and 74 inches of space separating each seat. In addition, wide HD LCD screens and adjustable reading lights have been installed for added comfort.