CHINA. To honour next month’s China International Consumer Products Expo (Hainan Expo), a specially themed China Southern Airlines aircraft adorned with the event’s logo, colours and mascots today made its inaugural flight today (13 March).
After being unveiled in Guangzhou, the Airbus 321 flew to Haikou Meilan International Airport. Under a five-year agreement China Southern Airlines is the designated air carrier of the Hainan Expo.
The aircraft features Hainan Expo theming both on its exterior and inside the cabin. This includes the event’s recently unveiled mascot series dubbed ‘Hainan Industrial Gibbon’. Individually, the mascots are named Hainan Planting Gibbon, Hainan Diving Gibbon and Hainan Astronaut Gibbon, references to three key Hainan elements – land, sea and air – and leading Hainan industries derived from agriculture (seed), the sea and aerospace.
Each side of the plane’s exterior features a unique design and a palette consisting of pink, purple and blue – echoing the colour scheme for the Hainan Expo. The image of Hainan Astronaut Gibbon is seen on the left hand side of the aircraft’s body, flying
toward the sky with a balloon in hand – a representation of Hainan’s adventurous spirit and its high hopes for the future.
On the right hand side is Hainan Diving Gibbon, bursting out from the ocean on the back of a whale, symbolising Hainan’s technological advances and innovative drive. Meanwhile, Hainan Planting Gibbon can be found on the tail of the plane, cultivating crops using hi-tech farming practices. The image serves as a call to global enterprises and consumers to cultivate a beautiful, sustainable future together.
Passengers were presented with customised gifts to celebrate the inaugural flight
The Expo, run by the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development (Hainan IEDB) will be held from 12 to 16 April in Haikou. The Moodie Davitt Report is working closely with Hainan IEDB and Hainan Hinews Media Co (our strategic partner in Hainan province) to provide dedicated coverage leading up to and during the event.
Courtesy of FATIII Aviation and Hainan IEDB Global Media Officer & Senior Supervisor Ruslan Tulenov we bring you photos and video of the China Southern Airlines aircraft and inaugural flight.
Footnote: Every fortnight The Moodie Davitt Report publishes Hainan Curated, in association with Foreo, a selection of all recent stories from the offshore duty free sector in Hainan province.
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