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The iPhone app aims to make it easier for Chinese travellers to navigate the airport |
AUSTRALIA. Sydney Airport is to introduce a full Chinese version of its iPhone app and extend the number of Mandarin-speaking guides as it builds its strategy to target Chinese travellers. The move comes as China Eastern announces a new three times a week service between Sydney and Nanjing.
The Chinese version of the Sydney Airport iPhone app will appear in time for Christmas. The app will automatically display the Chinese or the English version, depending on user settings.
“Sydney Airport’s iPhone app is used more than 30,000 times every week and we hope that our Chinese passengers also use the app to check flight arrivals and departures and other airport information,” said airport CEO Kerrie Mather.
“Dynamic Chinese wayfinding signage will also be installed in the arrivals section of the international terminal in time for Christmas.”
She added: “Following the success of this year’s Red Ambassador programme, we are doubling the number of Mandarin-speaking guides to 40 volunteers during next year’s Chinese New Year festival over January and February. Chinese New Year is the busiest time of year for our Chinese carriers because it’s traditionally a time for reuniting with family. Sydney Airport is committed to improving our services for this significant and growing market.”
In related news, China Eastern will fly direct between Nanjing and Sydney from 21 December, maintaining Sydney Airport’s position as Australia’s leading gateway for Chinese visitors.
“We’re delighted to announce a new route from one of our fastest growing carriers, less than a week after the NSW Government announced its China tourism strategy,” Mather said.
“This is fantastic news for tourism in Sydney and NSW and shows strong demand by the Chinese to visit our beautiful city.
“The historic city of Nanjing has a population of more than eight million people and is an important centre for commerce and trade in eastern China, adding to Sydney Airport’s already significant network of major China region cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.”
China Eastern will fly an A330-300 service between Sydney and Nanjing three times a week (which then flies onwards to Beijing), taking the carrier’s total weekly services from Sydney to 12.
“Earlier this year, China overtook the US to become our second largest inbound nationality market, second to only New Zealand and we want to show that we are “˜China-ready’,” said Mather.
