STORY: Visa-free policy boosts passenger flow to China at Amsterdam airport
SHOOTING TIME: June 25, 2024
DATELINE: June 26, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:42
LOCATION: Amsterdam
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of passengers at Schiphol Airport
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILCO SWEIJEN, Airline Partnerships Director at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): SU JIE, Sales director of China Southern Airlines' Europe and Amsterdam Office
4. various of passengers at Schiphol Airport

STORYLINE:

China's visa-free policy has boosted passenger flows from Schiphol Airport in the Dutch city of Amsterdam to China, with major airlines expanding capacity to meet rising demand.

The number of weekly flights to China has increased to 42 from 29 last year, Airline Partnerships Director at Schiphol Airport Wilco Sweijen told Xinhua on Tuesday.

"We are now seeing a much higher demand of passengers going to China," he said, adding that Schiphol Airport has recently ramped up its security and ground handling staff to accommodate the surge in passengers during the summer travel season.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILCO SWEIJEN, Airline Partnerships Director at Schiphol Airport
"With the new visa policy, it is easier to go to China. We are now seeing a much higher demand of passengers going to China. We will be seeing 42 passenger flights a week to China from Amsterdam. And that is compared to last year, it was only 29. So that is, for sure, a big jump in number of frequencies.
More staff had to be put in for security, but also for the whole ground handling activities. The general measures that we are doing to be able to accommodate the summer peak, we are well prepared."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): SU JIE, Sales director of China Southern Airlines' Europe and Amsterdam Office
"To meet the growing passenger demand, China Southern Airlines will increase its flights on the Amsterdam to Beijing Daxing and Amsterdam to Guangzhou routes to a total of 14 flights per week, beginning July 1. This will provide nearly 650 seats daily. Additionally, to ensure a premium experience for our passengers traveling to China, China Southern Airlines will use the latest Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft."

Other airlines flying to China have either already increased or plan to increase their flight frequencies in response to the growing demand spurred by the visa-free policy.

In May, China extended its visa-free policy until Dec. 31, 2025, for citizens of the Netherlands and 11 other countries. Holders of valid ordinary passports from these countries can now enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family visits, or transit, for stays for up to 15 days.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Amsterdam.
(XHTV)