CIG attended the 10th anniversary commemorative event of Air China's Geneva-Beijing direct flight route

On June 28th, CIG Director Jun CHU, Principal Zhimin SUN, and Teacher Yijie LI attended the 10th anniversary commemoration ceremony of Air China's Geneva-Beijing inaugural flight. The event took place at Geneva airport and aimed to celebrate the successful operation and contribution of this important air route.
 

Looking back over the past decade, since its inaugural flight on May 7, 2013, the Air China Geneva-Beijing route has operated 2,261 flights, with a total of 24,000 safe flying hours and over 359,500 passengers transported. This route has not only become a bridge for economic and trade cooperation between China and Switzerland but also facilitated deepened exchanges in politics, economy, and culture between the two countries.

We still remember the outbreak of the domestic epidemic at the beginning of 2020, when there was an urgent need for masks in China. CIG donated 20,000 Swiss medical masks to China with the help of General Manager Chen GE and Ms. Wen DU, as well as the strong support of Ambassador Wenbing GENG, the Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland at the time. The masks successfully boarded the last cargo flight to Beijing, China.

During the event, General Manager Chen GE represented the Air China Geneva Office and presented the achievements of the past decade to the attending guests. He emphasized that the opening of the Geneva route has provided significant support for the implementation of the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement, and has also established a convenient channel for cooperation between China and international organizations such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and World Health Organization.

Despite facing suspension and operational challenges during the global pandemic outbreak in 2020, the Geneva route successfully resumed with the support of the Swiss government and assistance from partners. Starting from July 14, 2023, an additional Friday flight will be added, and the flight schedule will be adjusted to Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It is expected that the passenger traffic this year will exceed 30,000. Ambassador Xu CHEN from the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Ambassador Chenggang LI from the Permanent Mission of China to the World Trade Organization, and Ambassador Shiting WANG from the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland attended the ceremony. Ambassador Shiting WANG emphasized in his speech the positive role of this route in promoting the development of China-Switzerland economic and trade relations. He stated that the Air China Geneva-Beijing route is not only an important link between the two countries' cooperation but also provides passengers with convenience and a comfortable flying experience.

The strong support from various parties such as Geneva Airport and the Swiss government has been a crucial factor in the successful operation of the route. Yves-Daniel VIREDAZ, Head of Marketing Department at Geneva Airport, expressed appreciation and well-wishes for Air China's flights. He pledged that Geneva Airport would continue to provide high-quality services and offer full support for the smooth operation of the Air China Geneva-Beijing route.
 

As a crucial link in international air transportation, the staff members of Air China Geneva Office pledge to continue ensuring the safety of flight operations, improving service, and providing a smoother, more convenient, and higher-quality channel for political, economic, and cultural exchanges for the passengers. They are committed to making greater contributions to the bilateral development between China and Switzerland.