Bangkok--Oct 31--eTurboNews
NEW DELHI, India (eTurboNews) -- Visa restrictions imposed by the US government are preventing Chinese airlines from committing to nonstop flights between China and Las Vegas, reports Las Vegas Sun.
According to the report, the problem is an issue local tourism leaders have heard before: Visa restrictions by the US government on Chinese citizens are preventing Las Vegas from being a lucrative market.
"Las Vegas would benefit hugely, hugely, hugely if some of these restrictions were lifted," Zhihang Chi, general manager of Air China in Los Angeles, said. According to Chi, his airline has the resources to operate jumbo jet flights between Las Vegas and Beijing or Shanghai, but under current visa policies, it isn't commercially viable. The airline's jets have the range to make such a flight, but Air China wouldn't be able to sell enough seats on such large jets to make the route financially feasible.
"We could make the flight with one of our (Boeing) 747s, but it may not be a profitable venture," Chi said. "We think that if the visa issue were resolved, it would be viable."
The report added: It isn't the first time that the visa issue has been raised in connection with travel between China and Las Vegas. Officials with the Nevada Commission on Tourism have said visa restrictions are the biggest impediment to establishing nonstop routes between the state and major cities in China. . . Nevada officials say thousands of Chinese who are financially capable of international travel are frustrated by the visa process, which requires setting an appointment several weeks in advance of travel and several hours of filling out forms and answering personal questions.
Separately, China and Singapore have agreed upon cooperation in various disciplines as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong vowed to enhance political and economic cooperation. This is Lee's first official visit to China.
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