Sichuan Airlines expanding network from Chengdu with Australia, Europe & North America routes

Sichuan Airlines is joining the growing list of second-tier Chinese carriers which are setting their sights on the long-haul international market. Sichuan Airlines general manager Li Haiying, as quoted by Carnoc.com this month, stated the carrier's international network expansion would take off next year, supported by the carrier's A330-200 fleet, leased from AerCap.

Sichuan Airlines commenced international services in 2007 and now operates a network of nine Southeast Asian destinations. Destinations in its network include Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Phuket, Saipan, Seoul Incheon, Taichung, Tapei Songshan and Taipei Taoyuan. The carrier operates only within Asia at present, with around 11,600 seats deployed on these services per week. It plans to expand this network profile considerably to include destinations in Europe, North America and Australia.