XiamenAir launches nonstop Xiamen–London Heathrow route

XiamenAir launched its new intercontinental route between Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and London Heathrow on Sunday. It is the first direct link between China's Fujian province and the United Kingdom. The nonstop service removes the need to change planes in a third country, cutting travel time between the two cities considerably.

Flights run three times weekly, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Flight MF821 departs Xiamen at 00:50 and arrives at Heathrow at 06:35 local time. The return flight MF822 leaves London at 12:35 and lands in Xiamen at 07:00 the following day.

For the inaugural flight, the airline put on a themed experience called "Egret Island's Sea Breeze and British Charm", mixing cultural elements from Fujian and the UK. Check-in and boarding gate areas at the airport had photo zones with images of Xiamen's coastline and British icons such as Big Ben, red double-decker buses and telephone boxes. Passengers also took part in a trivia game before boarding. On board, travellers received commemorative 3D cards and exclusive luggage tags, with British music and cabin aromas. After reaching cruise altitude, the crew served two specially created non-alcoholic cocktails.