newstodate.aero

Mar 22, 2023 (newstodate): Maersk Air Cargo is now online on the route between its European hub at Billund Airport and Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport with an en-route stop at Navoi Airport, in Uzbekistan.
   The opening flight on March 20, 2023, has however been a "slow boat to China"..
   The first leg from Billund to Navoi was covered with 6.03 hrs in the air, while the final leg from Navoi to Hangzhou required another 6.27 hrs flying time - right as planned.
   However, planned as a technical stop for fueling and crew change, the Boeing 767-300 freighter stayed at Navoi Airport for more than seven hours, prolonging the total time from departure at Billund to landing in Hangzhou to over 20 hours..
   -The prolonged stay at Navoi was due to the prescribed crew rest, which will not be required once the route gets fully implemented, says Peter Corfitzen, Maersk Air Cargo CEO.

   The aircraft is now planned to be back at Billund Airport only at 11.38 Lt on March 23.

   Once all conditions and infrastructure are in place, a fresh cockpit crew will take over at Navoi to operate the rotation to Hangzhou, with the BLL-Navoi-BLL crew to take over for the return flight to Billund Airport.
   Operating the first of three newly converted Boeing 767-300 aircraft allocated to the European base at Billund Airport, the company will be offering three weekly rotations on the route from Billund to Hangzhou with an en-route technical stop at Uzbekistan's Navoi Airport for refueling and crew change.