Sichuan Airlines Inaugural Chengdu-Chongqing-Sydney Service

By Grahame Hutchison on Friday, 20th December 2013

Today marked Sichuan Airlines inaugural service into Sydney from the cities of Chengdu and Chongqing in western China. Sydney Airport Corporation Limited CEO Kerrie Mather, welcomed the new airline and route, saying it would open up direct access to western China from Sydney. The new service will add 50,000 seats per year to the Chengdu-Chongqing-Sydney route, with Sichuan Airlines operating twice weekly flights using its Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Sydney Airport now has 94 weekly flights from nine carriers to greater China, with five carriers offering 46 services to mainland Chinese cities including Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Nanjing and Shanghai.

 

Before the arrival of the aircraft, the Media were bussed out to the Alpha 5 stop bar on Runway 34L. This location was only 70 metres from the Runway centreline, and right in front of the touchdown zone

The inaugural Sichuan Airlines service operated by Airbus A330-200 B-6535, flares for touchdown on Runway 34 Left.

The touchdown was right in front of us, however the aircraft did a gentle bounce and floated for a while

Touchdown again with some burning rubber this time.

The aircraft was still floating

Finally firmly on the ground - welcome to Sydney Sichuan Airlines.

B-6535 vacated Runway 34L on the Alpha 2 Rapid, and then taxied on Alpha towards the "Water Cannon" salute by the ARFF

With ARFF Tenders on either side of Taxiway Alpha, B-6535 receives the customary "Water Cannon" salute to mark the Inaugural Sichuan Airlines service into Sydney

B-6535 approaching the turn into INTL 2

Turning left at INTL 2 towards the International Terminal and Gate 25


B-6535 noses into Gate 25 at the International Terminal

The Tech Crew with Sichuan Airlines CEO and President Lee.

During the Alpha 5 photo shoot, I took the opportunity to get a shot of me standing next to my website namesake - www.16Right.com From the Alpha 5 stop bar it is only 70 metres to the Runway centreline, and right in the touchdown zone - a perfect location for photography.

Sydney Airport Corporation Limited Media Release

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