This year’s close alignment of Valentines’ Day and Chinese New Year has resulted in a surge of bookings for flights from Nanjing Lukou International Airport over the holiday period.
Tropical destinations in Asia are proving particularly popular this year for the honeymooners, while the airport has also taken the opportunity to blow its own horn by promoting its so-called 13 hour “flying circle” that is essentially a list of all flights and destinations. Nevertheless, the concept has been picked up by local media such as the Yangtze Evening Post who are also reporting that, newly weds and the recently engaged aside, 70 percent of journeys to be made over the next two weeks shall still be for the traditional reason of returning home to be with family.
On the international front, there are now a total of 18 regular, scheduled, non-stop flights to international destinations from Nanjing Lukou International Airport.
In particular, flights to Vietnam that were launched last year have proven a hit with Nanjingers; the cities of Da Nang and Nha Trang are served from Nanjing on alternate days by Vietnam Airlines, while Vietjet Air, in hot water at the moment after flight attendants put on a lingerie show for the country’s under-23 soccer team, also flies from Nanjing to Nha Trang thrice weekly.
Jeju in South Korea continues to be a hot pick for local people; not only for those who have tied the knot due to its reputation as “honeymoon island” but also for its proximity and relaxed visa requirements.
Long haul budget airline, Scoot, began flying direct to Singapore from Nanjing in 2013. Away from the upcoming, high-demand holiday period, one way tickets can be had for as little as ¥658.
Even countries such as Cambodia are now virtually within a stone’s throw of Nanjing; the gateway to the ruins of Angkor Wat that is Siem Reap is now easily accessible via the recently launched flight from Nanjing on Sky Angkor Airlines.
It is also worth noting that direct flights from Nanjing to the Indonesian island of Bali are due to commence this month, while later this year, direct flights to the Finnish capital of Helsinki are also anticipated.
The full list of direct international flights from Nanjing Lukou International Airport, operating at time of writing, is as follows (flights are listed alphabetically, by destination city):
- Busan, South Korea; Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12:55pm on Korean Air.
- Da Nang, Vietnam; Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 11:10pm on Vietnam Airlines.
- Denpasar, Indonesia; Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3.35pm on Sriwijaya Air.
- Frankfurt, Germany; Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12:50pm on Lufthansa.
- Jeju, South Korea; Thursday and Sunday at 6:05pm on Juneyao Airlines.
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 11:30pm on Malaysia Airlines.
- Los Angeles, USA; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 2:05pm on China Eastern Airlines.
- Milan, Italy; Sundays and Thursdays at 10:45pm on Neos Airlines.
- Nha Trang, Vietnam; Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 10:15pm on VietJet Air; Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11:45pm on Vietnam Airlines.
- Osaka, Japan; every day at 3:30pm on Juneyao Airlines; every day except Monday and Sunday on China Eastern Airlines.
- Phuket, Thailand; every day at 9.40pm on Juneyao Airlines; every day except Tuesday and Thursday at 10:50am on Thai Lion Air; Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:35pm on China Eastern Airlines.
- Sapporo, Japan; every day at 10:55am on Juneyao Airlines; Thursday and Sunday at 9:50am on China Eastern Airlines.
- Seoul, South Korea; every day at 8:10am on China Eastern Airlines; every day at 2:50pm on Asiana.
- Siem Reap, Cambodia; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 11:30pm on Sky Angkor Airlines.
- Singapore; every day except Friday at 5pm; Friday at 11:20pm on Scoot.
- Sydney, Australia; Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:30pm on China Eastern Airlines.
- Tokyo, Japan; Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 8:00am on China Eastern Airlines.
- Vancouver, Canada; Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 1:10pm on China Eastern Airlines.
