Beantown to Beijing, Part III

Someone approached me yesterday inquiring about the purpose for such blog posts. Is this a niche market for those interested in flights from Boston to China? Yes, it is. However, the route itself is the prime example of what the cutting edge of commercial aviation technology is doing for world travel. Quite dryly referred to as the "long and thin" routes, that is, long range flights with too few passengers to justify a high capacity aircraft, are creating are now being exploited to provide a level of global connectivity not previously known in the history of human travel.

On a similar note, Hawaiian is examining opening new routes between Hawaii and the East Coast of the US. CEO Mark Dunkerley even mused in a podcast earlier this week that routes between the UK and Hawaii were on the table for consideration.

These new routes, though serving different clientele, are the byproduct of game changing new aircraft. The ability of these aircraft to open new markets in mid-sized cities that have never previously enjoyed hub-less travel is the essence of increasingly globalized twenty-first century travel.

Somewhat ironically, the growth of electronic connectivity enabling business to be done from afar more easily also directly encourages the need for face-to-face relationships. Technology can reduce the need or frequency for this type of interaction, but only to a point. The foundation for all human interactions is that of being in the same place at the same time. The ability to communicate more easily from a distance is a supplement, not a substitute, for a handshake or face-to-face eye contact.

Patrick said Chinese leaders conduct very formal initial meetings, but then quickly warm to political leaders. He said he had met in the United States with the chairman of Hainan Airlines and “it was as if we were long lost brothers when we met again in Beijing.”