Nevada offficials seeking direct flights from China

Monday, Oct. 13, 2003 | 10:58 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

RENO -- Nevada's trade delegation had a productive meeting with Chinese aviation officials in Beijing in a bid to revive direct passenger service to Las Vegas and begin air cargo routes to Reno, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt said Sunday.

Singapore Airlines had offered nonstop flights between the Chinese city of Hong Kong and Las Vegas, but they were canceled in April when the SARS virus cut into international travel. Las Vegas continues to have direct flights from Asia with Japan Air Lines' flights from Tokyo.

Hunt told officials for the Nevada Commission on Tourism by telephone that she and other members of the tourism and trade delegation met in Beijing with Yang Guoqing, vice minister of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China.

"We were able to point out the excellent opportunities for both tourism and trade between our state and the People's Republic of China," Hunt said in a statement released by the commission on Sunday.

"This was a productive first day for us in China," she said.

Hunt chairs both the Nevada Commission on Tourism and the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. During the 10-day mission through Oct. 19, the delegation will meet with Chinese officials in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macau.

Krys Bart, executive director of Reno-Tahoe International Airport, told Chinese aviation officials that Reno's round-the-clock customs services allow cargo to be cleared in 24 hours.

Nevada's delegation is being hosted by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, which was founded in 1949.

Bruce Bommarito, executive director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism, is helping lead the delegation that includes officials from the tourism, hotel and casino industries as well as the travel industry.