Global Express maiden charter flights to Xinjiang booked out

A charter service between Hong Kong and Urumchi, Xinjiang, scheduled to debut on June 23, has already been fully booked by group tours until September, according to the provider.

Travel and transportation operator Global Express signed a three-year agreement with Xinjiang Airlines to provide weekly direct flights between Hong Kong and Urumchi until October 6.

Global Express president Frank Lo, also chairman of the Taiwan Business Association (HK), said about 65 per cent of bookings came from Taiwan travel agents, 15 per cent from Hong Kong tour operators and the rest from other places.

He said travelling to exotic regions of western China had become particularly popular with Taiwanese tourists, most of whom had already visited Western countries such as the United States and those in Europe, and were looking for something different.

Although most Hong Kong airlines dismissed the route as being non-viable because of the low expected passenger volume, Mr Lo said he was confident the route would be profitable.

The service would be more convenient for Taiwanese travellers who could take connecting flights from Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok airport to Urumchi instead of proceeding to airports in Shenzhen or Guangzhou for internal flights, he said.