Vancouver-Gangzhou Direct -- It's Gonna Happen
The Zhongnanhai blog is out with a post, entitled "Guangzhou's immaculate Baiyun Airport to receive direct flights from Vancouver," on how there will soon be direct flights between Vancouver and Guangzhou. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on this last week to commence such flights in 2009.
Zhongnanhai then goes on to describe "Guangzhou's luxurious Baiyun Airport" as "nicest big-city airport in China (not including Hong Kong International)." China Southern Airlines will be taking on this route from the China side, while Air Canada will, presumably, be making this trip as well. Vancouver is a great gateway to Asia because so many top Asian airlines go through there and the airport itself is pretty good, with (at least the last time I was there) a pretty good sushi restaurant. Back when the US dollar was stronger, I would often transit through Vancouver to and from Asia via Air Canada (good seats, clean planes, mediocre food) and Singapore Airlines (nothing need be said).
Comments
Seoul's Inchon airport is luxurious. It's a stretch to call Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport luxurious. It's new. But that's about it.
Posted by: Zhang Fei | December 1, 2007 11:33 AM
Zhang Fei,
I too am a big fan of Inchon. My only complaint (and my little secret) is that the best sushi restaurant in the place is outside the transit area. It is run by the Westin Chosun and it is damn good and one can get a nice sushi combo with a diet coke for around USD$20. Another Inchon trick is that it is a great place to get passport/visa photos for the Chinese Embassy. There's a photo store there (near the entrance) that takes photos for only around USD$12. Also, the Hyatt Inchon is a great hotel, with a casino! The in airport Walker Hill Garden hotel ain't too shabby either. Rooms there go for about USD $50 for six hours and USD$90 for tweleve. The rooms have phones, decent bathrooms and a TV. No in room internet (at least the last time I was there and no windows looking out either. Lobby has free internet though. Quite the deal compared to leaving the airport. Lastly, if you are going to be in Korea for at all long, rent your phone at the airport. Prices are excellent and the convenience cannot be beat. And, odds are tremendous your phone does not work in Korea.
I have spent 1/6 of my life in the Inchon airport so I know it all.
Posted by: China Law Blog | December 1, 2007 5:03 PM