HNA Group plans to set up a branch in Shanghai because its subsidiary, Hainan Airlines, plans to launch more international flights from the city to help build it into a global air hub.
The airline announced yesterday that it will launch its second international route linking Shanghai and Istanbul on July 11. It opened its first international route between Shanghai and Brussels last year.
Last year, more than 77,000 Chinese citizens visited Turkey, an annual growth of 11.3 percent.
In the first four months of this year, more than 27,000 Chinese went to Turkey, an annual jump of 25.7 percent.
"We will open more international routes linking Shanghai in a bid to build the city into our international air hub as we eye the huge growth potential here," said Luo Jun, East China director of Hainan Airlines.
The airline will launch two more international routes from Shanghai to Mumbai and from Shanghai to Abu Dhabi, later this year.
