Asia Holiday Travel Inc offering Tours to China

Asia Holiday Travel Inc offering Tours to China is an associated member of China International Travel Service, Hebei, the People's Republic of China founded in 1973. We are based in San Francisco, the departure point for our tours. Throughout our history, we have been focusing on those destinations we know best and successfully offering varieties of package tours to China, Hong Kong and other Asian countries for more than 20 years. We have sister-offices located in many parts of China. This unique resource and many years of experience are the guarantee of your Trouble-Free travel arrangements and high quality tours that no other agency has been able to match.

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First China-Built Airbus Due In July

China's Sichuan Airlines will become the world's first carrier to receive an Airbus built outside Europe when it takes delivery in July of an A320 assembled in China, an Airbus staff memo said.

Details of the historic delivery, almost four decades after the plane maker was born as a four-nation European consortium, were disclosed to employees in the internal note this week.

It comes as Airbus prepares to sign separate deals with China over investment in its next model, the A350, which will include new carbon materials and will be assembled in France.

Airbus began assembling some of its A320 model of jets in Tianjin near Beijing in September from fuselage parts shipped from Europe.

According to the memo, the Tianjin factory is now full, with four airframes assembled and a fifth in position.

Airbus and rival Boeing have been turning to Asian markets, led by China, for growth as demand weakens at home.

However, China too is now succumbing to the global economic crisis. In December, Beijing encouraged airlines to cancel or postpone 2009 deliveries due to falling air traffic.

Tianjin A320s are assembled from fuselage parts shipped from factories in France, Germany, Spain and Britain. Airbus aims to reach local Chinese output of four A320s a month by end-2011.

Under pressure over jobs, Airbus says Tianjin will serve the Chinese market and that most construction will remain in Europe.

It says the move will lock in a good slice of the 3,000 new planes Airbus predicts China will need over the next 20 years.

But it faces criticism from European unions who say the move adds to outsourcing fears amid the recession and could result in the loss of European technology to a potential jet maker rival.

Airbus has suspended plans to lift total A320-family output to 40 planes a month from 36 due to the global economic crisis.

For now its Chinese production plans remain intact. So if the overall output freeze lingers, assembly of up to 4 planes a month could be transferred to China from Europe. However, with the industry in turmoil due to a drop in air travel, Airbus has said it cannot make firm predictions even for 2009.

Most analysts expect production to be hit everywhere as the recession bites before rebounding on signs of recovery.

Sichuan Airlines, a mid-sized carrier partly owned by China Southern Airlines, operates more than 130 routes, almost entirely within China, with a fleet of 40 jets.

Details of the first Airbus to be made in China emerged as EADS invited China to produce high-tech materials for its next generation of Airbus, the future mid-sized lightweight A350.

A deal to build a plant in Harbin was due to be signed on a visit to Spain by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday.

Another deal is expected as he visits Britain on Monday, when Xi'an Aircraft International will sign a parts manufacturing agreement with Airbus, a person familiar with the transaction said.

Spain has a 5 percent stake in EADS, which is controlled by French and German interests with two factories also in Britain.

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China Southern Airlines Co

China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. – the newest member of SkyTeam - is a main air transportation business of China Southern Air Holding Company.

With flight operations based at Guangzhou’s brand-new, award-winning Baiyun International Airport, China Southern Airlines’ company logo can be seen around the globe with a brilliant red kapok delicately adoring a blue vertical tail fin. 

China Southern Airlines has 13 branches located throughout China, including: Beijing, Dalian, Guangxi, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Northern, Shenzhen, Xinjiang and Zhuhai Helicopter Company. Five holding subsidiaries are located in Chongqing, Guizhou, Shantou, Xiamen and Zhuhai with 2 bases in Shanghai & Xian and 18 domestic sales and ticket offices situated throughout China, including Chendu,Hangzhou,Nanjing and Taibei,etc.  

As China’s largest airline, China Southern Airlines has 54 International offices located in major metropolitan markets around the world, including: Amsterdam, Dubai, Lagos, Los Angeles, Paris, Singapore, Seoul, Sharjah, Sydney ,Tokyo,New York,London,Vancouver,Dibai, Brisbane,etc.

China Southern Airlines operates the largest and most technologically advanced airline fleet … as well as the most extensive domestic air network in The People’s Republic of China. 

Currently, China Southern Airlines operated 342 modern Boeing 777, 747, 757, 737 and Airbus A330, 321, 320, 319 and 300 jet aircraft serving destinations to 841 cities in 162 countries … forming an extensive network, with Guangzhou and Beijing as its hubs, covering all of China and radiating throughout Asia with convenient connections to all main cities in the world via close cooperation with all the SkyTeam member airlines. 

In 2007, China Southern Airlines carried nearly 57 Million passengers, being ranked world #4 and Asia #1 and the only one Asian airline listed top 5 from China,ranked as the largest airline in China for 29 consecutive years and is the only carrier in mainland China entering into the world’s Top 10 passenger airlines - based on annual passenger traffic volume.

As of 16 July 2008, China Southern Airlines had achieved more than 5 Million safe flight hours and carried 2.5 hundred Million passengers safely and was honored the Five-Star Flight Safety Award by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) – the current most prestigious award for safe flight operations in the Chinese aviation industry, becoming the only Chinese carrier maintaining the longest safety record and occupying a leading position in the international aviation industry.

The airline owns and operates its own independent pilot training centers for pilots and flight attendants. China Southern Airlines, with more than 3,300 comprehensively trained and experienced pilots, is the only Chinese carrier that has the independent capability of “building its pilots from the ground up” as it trains young aviators at its Western Australia Flying College in Perth … then moves these graduates to advanced cadet training at its Zhuhai Flight Training Center, a joint venture with Montreal-based CAE Inc.

China Southern Airlines enjoys a strong aircraft maintenance capability through its joint-venture company GAMECO - Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Co., Ltd. – the largest aircraft maintenance hanger in Asia and via its MTU Maintenance Zhuhai Co., Ltd. - in partnership with the German MTU - the biggest aero engine overhaul facility with the highest level in maintenance in mainland China. Additionally, China Southern Airlines has earned two second prizes in the National Science & Technology Progress Award, one for its System Operations Control Center and the other for its Engine Performance Monitoring System.

In 1995, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2007, China Southern Airlines was honored by the CAAC with the “Golden Roc Cup” – the previous most prestigious award in the Chinese aviation industry. 

China Southern Airlines is committed to putting the customer first and dedicated to exceeding its customers’ expectations by offering reliable, on-time and convenient quality customer service. 

China Southern Airlines attaches key importance to its branded products strategy, offering a host of reliable and convenient on-time services. The airline currently has the largest frequent flyer program in China - The Sky Pearl Club - with more than 4.2 Million members, enjoying numerous opportunities for free flights and flight upgrades.

China Southern Airlines is the first airline in China to own and operate its own terminals – Terminal One at Beijing Capital International Airport, Terminal One at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport and Terminal Three at Urumqi Diwobao International Airport.

China Southern Airlines is the aviation marketing leader in China and is renowned for its numerous branded services such as The Sky Pearl Club; First & Business Class VIP Lounges Ground Service; China Southern Connections Service and “95539” Customer Service & Call Center Hot Line. 

China Southern Airlines has been named the “Best Airline in China” by several international organizations, and was honored with the “Five Star Diamond Award” by The American Academy of the Hospitality Sciences in January 2004.

China Southern Airlines is developing at a brisk pace.

In 1997, China Southern Airlines debuted on both the New York and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges and in 2003, the airline was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

China Southern Airlines successively merged with, took over shareholding stocks in and joined the equity in numerous Chinese carriers. 

China Southern Airlines led the Chinese aviation industry in introducing the Boeing 737, 757, 777, Airbus A330 and the superjumbo A380 to the Chinese marketplace; the first Chinese carrier to introduce its own Computer Reservation System and Internet e-ticketing; the first to introduce its own Revenue Management, System Operations Control, Finance Management, Human Resources, Cargo and Office Automation Systems; established a mammoth cargo station ranked #1 in mainland China and the third largest in the world … and the largest air catering center in the mainland.

In January 2005, China Southern Airlines inked a pact with Airbus for five A380 superjumbo aircraft
In August 2005, China Southern Airlines signed an agreement with Boeing for 10 B787-8 Dreamliners, becoming the largest purchaser of this type of aircraft in China. 

In 2006, China Southern Airlines placed an order for six B777 freighters, striding forward a brand new step in its cargo development.

China Southern Airlines has received numerous honors, including: 
In 1995, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2007 China Southern Airlines was honored the “Golden Roc Cup” - the most prestigious safe flight operation award in the Chinese aviation industry.

 
In 2002, China Southern Airlines was ranked #13 among the Top 100 listed Chinese enterprises by Fortune Magazine.
In 2002, China Southern Airlines was named one of the Top 10 emerging Chinese third party logistics enterprises by The China Shipping Gazette.

 
In 2002, China Southern Airlines’ “Operation Target Management” Program was honored the second prize in the 9th China National Enterprise Management Modernization Innovation Achievements.

 
In 2003, China Southern Airlines was ranked 9th among the top 500 Chinese informationisation enterprises and was honored the “Best Informationisation Efficiency Award”.
In both 2002 and 2004, China Southern Airlines was named as the “Best China Airline” by TTG Asia Travel Magazine. 

 
In 2004, China Southern Airlines’ System Operations Control System was honored with second prize in the “National Science & Technology Progress Award”.
In January 2004, China Southern Airlines was honored with the Five Star Diamond Award by The American Academy of the Hospitality Sciences.

 
In April 2005, China Southern Airlines was named the “Best Air Cargo in China” during the 1st Annual Cargonews China Awards. 
On 31 December 2006, China Southern Airlines Xinjiang Company (the former Xinjiang Airlines) successfully completed 52 consecutive years of safe flight operations, setting a new record for safe flight operations in China’s aviation industry.

 
In 2006, China Southern Airlines was honored the Three-Star Flight Safety Award by the CAAC – the most prestigious award for safe flight operations in the Chinese aviation industry. 
On 20 May 2007, China Southern Airlines was presented the Four-Star Flight Safety Award by the CAAC – the current most prestigious award for safe flight operations in the Chinese aviation industry. 

 
On 8 September 2007, China Southern Airlines received the Outstanding Contribution To Society Award at the forum on Social Responsibility And Harmonious Society 2007, organized by Xinhua News Agency.
In January 2008, China Southern Airlines was named the CCTV China Annual Best Employer 2007.

 
On 9th March, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) held the 2007 Customer Evaluation Results Conference. China Southern Airlines was honored the “2007 Customer Satisfaction Award” – the most prestigious quality service award in the Chinese aviation industry. 
On 10th April,China Southern Airlines was named as the “Best Business Class Airline in China” at the annual TTG China Travel Award ceremony held in Shanghai. 

 
On 20 May 2007, China Southern Airlines was presented the Four-Star Flight Safety Award by the CAAC – the current most prestigious award for safe flight operations in the Chinese aviation industry. 
On 16 July 2008, China Southern Airlines was presented the Five-Star Flight Safety Award by the CAAC – the current most prestigious award for safe flight operations in the Chinese aviation industry, becoming the only Chinese carrier maintaining the longest safety record and occupying a leading position in the international aviation industry.

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