DEL.ICIO.USThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/30/08
Delta's first nonstop flight to the People's Republic of China took off from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Sunday morning amid a ceremonial sendoff that included traditional Chinese lion dancers and hopeful talk of new jobs for Georgia.
"It's exciting for travel. It's exciting for economic development," said Gov. Sonny Perdue "This flight will connect the world's busiest airport with the world's most populous country."
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| Gov. Sonny Perdue and Qiao Hong, the honorable consul general to the U.S.States from the People's Republic of China, cut the ribbon for the inaugural nonstop flight. | ||
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Perdue, who headlines a high-profile trade delegation on the flight, said the daily Atlanta-to-Shanghai flight will strengthen economic ties with a country that is already the state's second-largest trading partner.
"Atlanta and Georgia will serve as a front door for that opportunity," Perdue said. "With each direct flight, we are opening Georgia's doors just a little bit wider to the world."
Of Chinese business prospects, the governor said: "We're going to get some jobs and bring them back to Georgia."
Chinese Consul General Qiao Hong, of Houston, greeted state political and business leaders at the airport. She said the flight is a milestone for the two countries.
"This new flight is a very important new gateway to China, the Southeast and South America," she said. The 15-hour flight will cut hours off the journey for business people traveling between China and South America as well as the Southeastern United states.
Departure Gate E12 was decorated with red, blue and yellow balloons for the sendoff. Many of the delegates on the trip wore lapel pins bearing the Chinese and U.S. flags.
The flight is part of the highest-profile trade mission yet from Georgia to the world's most populous nation. Perdue and his wife, Mary, Secretary of State Karen Handel, officials with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and top state business leaders are on the flight.
The state will open a business development office in Beijing as part of the trade mission. It will compete with 28 other business offices in the country operated by U.S. states and cities.
"We think the size of this delegation will send a message to the Chinese," Ken Stewart, commissioner of the state Department of Economic Development, said before boarding Delta Flight 19.
There were also passengers on the flight who were not part of the business delegation.
Marietta, Margaret Adkins, 83, who lives at Winnwood Retirement Community, bought her ticket in September, the day they went on sale. The airplane was leaving and she just wanted to go some place new.
"I wanted to tell my great grandkids I was on the first flight to China from Atlanta," Adkins said.
Delta won rights to fly to China in a Department of Transportation award last year, after failing twice to secure such rights.
The airline's No. 2 executive, Ed Bastian, had been scheduled to make the trip but canceled amid talk that merger discussions with Northwest Airlines may be re-heating. Similarly, Delta chief executive Richard Anderson canceled plans to be on a new flight to London's Heathrow Airport, also being inaugurated Sunday.
DID YOU KNOW?Here are some quick facts about the Atlanta-Shanghai flight:
• 7,659 — Miles between Atlanta and Shanghai
• 15.4 — Hours of flying time between the two cities
• 34,000 — Gallons of fuel consumed by the flight
• 656,000 — How many pounds the fully loaded Shanghai-bound Delta 777-200ER will weigh on takeoff
• 268 — Number of passengers the plane will carry
• 218 — How many of those seats will be in the economy section
• 11 — Number of direct flights from anywhere in the U.S. to China
• 1 — Number of direct flights from the Southeast to China (this is it)
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