First Route Between Mainland China and Hawaii Launched; Hawaii Declares ‘Hainan Airlines Day’

HAIKOU, China, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Hainan Airline Group (“HNA
Group”) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with a
commercial delegation from the State of Hawaii on November 9. Under the
agreement, HNA Group will launch a service between Beijing and Hawaii, the
first such service between a city on the Chinese mainland and Hawaii to be
offered by a Chinese airline. Hainan Governor Luo Baoming, Hawaii Governor

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091111/CNW063 )

The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Cooperation is only a part of a
series of signing ceremonies between the two groups. Prior to the signing
ceremony, some officials from Hainan Province led by Governor Luo Baoming met
with the delegation headed by Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle. Mr Luo gives a
brief synopsis of the development history of Hainan province and said that the
airline serves as a bridge between the island and the rest of the world,
paving the way for similar such cooperative efforts. Linda Lingle spoke of
the success of the Hainan-based airline. The opening of the Beijing-Hawaii
route is very meaningful to the cooperation between Hawaii and Hainan Airlines.

During the meeting with the Hawaii delegation, Chen Feng, Chairman of HNA
Group, traced the history of Hainan Airlines in his introductory speech and
articulated his high expectations for the cooperation between the two entities.
The governor expressed her appreciation for the hospitality shown them by the
carrier and said the State of Hawaii expects a further deepening of the
cooperation with Hainan Airlines. In addition, the state of Hawaii declared
November 9, 2009, ‘Hainan Airlines Day’ and awarded the Certificate of Honor
to the airline.

The direct route between Beijing and Hawaii launched by HNA Group is
expected to significantly shorten flight time between the two cities, and
further enhance tourism between China and the United States. In addition, the
cooperation will play a role in developing an international tourism market for
Hainan province and in implementing its strategy to establish Hainan as an
”International Tourism Island.”

Over forty people were in attendance at the ceremony, including Hainan
Governor Luo Baoming, Vice Governor Li Guoliang, Gubernatorial Assistant and
Director of Hainan Provincial Tourism Bureau Lu Zhiyuan, Deputy
Secretary-General Feng Ming, the Development and Reform Commission deputy
director Ye Zhanghe, Foreign Affairs Overseas Chinese Affairs Office deputy
director Liu Jin, Hainan Provincial Commerce Department deputy director Wang
Keqiang, Xie Yuan, Director of the Division of American and Oceanic Affairs at
the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Hawaii
Governor Linda Lingle, HNA Group Chairman Chen Feng, Hainan Airlines Vice
President Chen Ming, and representatives from the Hainan Province Industry and
Information Technology Bureau, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship
and the State of Hawaii, as well as members of the news media.

SOURCE Hainan Airline Group