Shanghai-Geneva direct flight takes off
GENEVA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- China Eastern Airlines' inaugural direct flight linking Shanghai, China, with Geneva, Switzerland, landed here early Monday morning.
Flight MU217 departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport carrying 243 passengers, achieving a seat occupancy rate of over 85 percent. The aircraft arrived in Geneva at 7:25 a.m. local time and was greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute, a traditional tribute reserved for major occasions in civil aviation.
Operated by China Eastern Airlines, the new service will run four times weekly - on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
"Shanghai is a key gateway to China, and this connection will boost high-value tourism, business travel, and cultural ties," said Adrien Genier, CEO of the Geneva Tourism & Conventions Foundation. The foundation also noted that China remains one of Geneva's most important and fastest-growing long-haul markets as of 2024.
"It will make travel between the two countries much easier - not only for tourists, but for diplomats and business travelers, who are particularly important in Geneva," said Yves-Daniel Viredaz, Head of Business Development at Geneva Airport.
Liu Haiping, General Manager of the Europe Marketing Center at China Eastern, highlighted the impact of China's current 30-day visa-free entry policy for Swiss and some other European nationals. "We've seen strong growth across our European routes thanks to the visa-free policy, with Shanghai serving as a key gateway for travelers heading to and from China," Liu said.
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Xiong came to admire those brands' legacy during his collaborations with elite fashion houses. 'What truly defines these brands,' he reflected, 'is an ingrained sense of honor — forged through generations — a commitment to craftsmanship they hold dear.' The partnership also enables Xiong's Enamel to redefine its brand by expanding beyond traditional art pieces into wearable jewelry, creating a more everyday context that is likely to attract young consumers. Notably, the motifs featured in the LOEWE pendants were designed by Xiong's Gen-Z daughter, a jewelry design graduate, to whom Xiong plans to eventually pass the baton. 'Our craft and technique are superb, and our brand becomes more prominent, and above all, China is getting stronger, with more people coming to love Chinese culture,' Xiong said in a summary of his insights into the new trend of collaboration. – Xinhua China handicraft luxury traditional crafts
