On May 16, 2024, Hainan Airlines HU445 flight took off from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at around 11 a.m., marking the official resumption of the direct passenger route from Chongqing to Seattle. This route is currently the only direct passenger route from China’s central and western regions to Seattle, USA.

The inaugural flight carried over 180 passengers, including many traveling to visit relatives in the USA, from various places such as Chongqing, Hunan, Chengdu, Wuhan, and Hangzhou. One passenger, Ms. Huang from Hunan, mentioned that she arrived in Chongqing a few days earlier to explore the city before flying to Seattle. Another passenger, Mr. Feng from Hangzhou, expressed his appreciation for the new travel option provided by this direct route.

Hainan Airlines plans to operate one round-trip flight per week on this route. The outbound flight is scheduled to depart from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at 11:20 a.m. and arrive at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 9:00 a.m., with an estimated flight duration of 12 hours and 40 minutes. The return flight is scheduled to depart from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 11:00 a.m. and arrive in Chongqing at 4:00 p.m. the next day, with an estimated flight duration of 14 hours.

Chongqing and Seattle have been sister cities since June 1983, with frequent exchanges over the years. Industry experts believe that the resumption of this route provides a convenient air bridge between inland China and North America, significantly enriching travel options and promoting trade, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties between Chongqing and Seattle.

passengers on the flight posing for a group photo inside the cabin