Xiamen – September 10, 2026 -- XiamenAir landed its inaugural flight MF821 at London Heathrow on September 6, launching the first-ever direct air link between Fujian province and the UK capital and carrying 263 passengers on the 12-hour journey.

XiamenAir launches first direct Xiamen-London route with 263 passengers aboard

Flight MF821 departed Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and touched down at Heathrow, eliminating the need for stopovers at third-country hubs on the Fujian-UK corridor. The route marks XiamenAir's latest addition to its intercontinental network.

Boeing 787 Dreamliners to operate three weekly return flights

The service will run three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. MF821 departs Xiamen at 00:50 and arrives in London at 06:35, while the return flight MF822 departs London at 12:35 and lands in Xiamen at 07:00 local time the following day.

Schedule design targets business travelers and jet lag reduction

The early-morning arrival in London gives business travelers a head start on their working day and leaves ample time for onward connections to other European cities. The midday departure from London allows passengers to transfer to domestic UK flights while easing jet lag on the return leg. Xiamen airport offers a 15-second smart customs clearance process for connecting passengers.

Route strengthens Fujian-UK ties amid growing diaspora demand

The inaugural flight carried a "Sea Breeze on Egret Island and British Charm" theme, pairing Xiamen coastal imagery with British landmarks including Big Ben, red double-decker buses and London phone booths at check-in and boarding areas. Onboard, passengers received 3D memory cards and luggage tags, along with two specially created mocktails served after reaching cruising altitude. Fujian has a large diaspora community in the UK, with strong travel demand among students from the province, a factor XiamenAir cited as supporting the new route's commercial case.