CEO of HNA Group Adam Tan awarded Commander of the Order of the Crown by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Launch of new air route set to further strengthen Belgian-Chinese relationship

Brussels, 28 August 2017 – The Secretary-General of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dirk Achten, conferred the honor of Commander of the Order of the Crown upon Adam Tan, the Vice Chairman and CEO of HNA Group. The award which is one of Belgium’s highest honors was granted in recognition of all the efforts and investments the HNA Group has made over the years to establish a strong relationship between China and Belgium. It highlights the recent decision by the Group to launch a new route, between Brussels and Shanghai, on the 46th anniversary of the establishment of relations between Belgium and China.

The Group has a strong footprint in the Belgian marketplace already, employing 450 people with an income of around 3.5 billion RMB (€445million EUR). The HNA Group has a presence in industries spanning aviation, hotels, trailer leasing and technology distribution.

On 25 October 2017, the day of the 46th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Peoples Republic of China, Hainan Airlines will launch a brand-new route between Brussels and Shanghai. It is a new direct connection between the two cities and will have three flights a week. The move further strengthens the relationship between Belgium and China, and will open up a direct route between China’s financial capital and the heart of Europe. 

In July 2006, the HNA Group’s subsidiary company Hainan Airlines officially opened the Brussels – Beijing flight route, the only direct flight between Belgium and China. In 2016 alone, 107,500 passengers traveled between Brussels and Beijing, making this a highly successful route. Additionally, in 2015, the Chicago-Brussels-Munich freight flight route launched. The aim was to provide global connectivity between China and the US, via Brussels. The establishment of the Belgium – China transport axis has strengthened the relations and dialogue between the two countries, making contributions to both countries’ economies, tourism industry and cultural exchange.

Adam Tan, who is also one of the founders of the HNA Group, said: “As I stand here today, representing HNA Group, I feel extremely privileged to be awarded the great honor of the Commander of the Order of the Crown. On behalf of HNA, I would like to express my deepest thanks to the Royal Family and Government of Belgium for this award, which represents the close relationship forged over many years between the country of Belgium and the HNA Group. With the exciting launch of our new direct route between Brussels and Shanghai in October, we look forward deepening our relationships with Belgium”.

The Order of the Crown which is awarded by royal decree, is one of Belgium’s highest honors and is awarded for services rendered to the Belgian state, especially for meritorious service in public employment but also for distinguished artistic, literary or scientific achievements or for commercial or industrial services in Belgium. The Commander is the third highest rank of the Order of the Crown.  Notable past recipients of the award are Amélie Nothomb, a Belgian novelist whose books are among the top literary sales and have been translated into several languages, Steven Spielberg who received the award for the movie he made about Tintin, and Flemish actor and comedian Gaston Berghmans.      
   

Buckle Up and Soar Up: Stories behind HNA Technic’s Aviation Doctors

At 12:30 on June 27, 2017, a flight from Shanghai to Guangzhou was delayed due to an emergency. Five hours later, the cause was found – Some passenger threw a handful of coins into the aircraft engine.

When you complain about a pointless long wait for your flight, someone else is enduring the scorching sun troubleshooting the causes before locating those scattered coins. Never letting a plane take off with a trace of hidden trouble is their vow.

This group of people is known as "Aviation Doctor".

Their untold stories bear sweetness and hardship.

I. Tan Kai starts his typical workday at midnight.

00:30. He receives a call from the duty room and arrives by the side of the faulty plane in no time. After a thorough checkup, he locates the failure which lies in the aircraft windshield heat strips. The windshield must be replaced on the spot.

01:00. Tan Kai arranges his staffers to print the maintenance manuals, verify the spare parts, borrow the tools, push the ladders, compose the pre-task risk analysis in order to prepare for the repair.

01:30. After the detailed work distribution for his staffers, Tan Kai begins to disassemble the windshield. Constrained in the compact cockpit, Tan Kai has to hold still during the entire process.

06:30. After more than five hours of continuous work, the windshield replacement is finally completed – Four hours ahead of schedule. Since he has been in the same position for such a long time, Tan Kai is exhausted by his stiff neck.

07:00. After the completion of the pressurization test, Tan Kai delivers the aircraft and clears it from the dock on time.

07:30. After summing up the day’s work with his team, Tan Kai finally has some time to nap in the lounge chair. As he wakes up, more difficult tasks await him.

Tan Kai, Technical Group Leader of the Haikou-Route Workshop No. 2 at HNA Technic’s Central South Maintenance Base

II. Wait no more. Wei Yucheng must go home and visit his sick father.

In the face of the raging rain, he couldn’t help but wonder, “Will the plane take off smoothly?”

In the standby room, Wei Yucheng received a message stating that "System hydraulic fluid experiences massive leakage in Aircraft A. Try to resolve with the local resources.” Meanwhile, the airport radio reported a plane with mechanical failure and thus the flight was delayed. This was the same aircraft with leaking hydraulic oil.

At this time, the ground visibility was extremely low, troubleshooting staff wouldn’t be able to arrive within four hours. Terminal passengers grew restless. Wei Yucheng acted with decisiveness volunteering himself to the headquarters for immediate onsite troubleshooting. With flashlight in hand, Wei Yucheng stepped into the heavy rain.

With wheel cabin and ground both being wet, oil and water blend into each other, making it hard to tell. However, with his superb skills and meticulous logic, Wei Yucheng located the leakage, which was at the tail of the cabin. At this point, only three hours had passed since the malfunction broadcast.

"I have been with Hainan Airlines for 17 years full of love and gratitude. When incidents like this occur, I do my best to fix things. No questions asked. No strings attached. It’s part of my job.”

Technical Support Engineer at Hainan Airlines’ Technical Maintenance Department

They are amongst thousands of crew members.

Their stories represent the countless supporting staffers 

who are no less responsible or professional.

They quietly guard aircrafts’ safety and security with a strong sense of responsibility.

Rain or snow, they stand by the plane tending the parts and guarding our safety. 

Kudos to you—

HNA Aviation Doctors!

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With its consistent professionalism for years on end, HNA Technic, Hainan Airlines’ exclusive aviation safety and maintenance service provider, brings Hainan Airlines to world’s Top 3 safest airlines. HNA Technic now has 9 major maintenance centers, 20+ maintenance bases and a worldwide service network of 100+ aviation maintenance sites with services ranging from aviation maintenance training, aircraft finishing, business jet maintenance etc. With its simultaneous development of the specialization of the industrial chain, HNA Technic serves more than 100 domestic and foreign aviation enterprises providing "efficient, one-stop" integrated aviation maintenance services.

Opportunities and Challenges: Interview with HNA Group’s Senior Management

To know HNA intimately, you have to start with knowing HNAers.
See below the insights from three HNA senior management staff on 

the opportunities and challenges as an HNAer.

 Patrick Kwan, Chief Investment Officer of HNA International

Why did you decide to join HNA?

I was impressed by the growth story of HNA and wanted to be a part of it.

What is your greatest challenge in your current position?

It would be prioritization. There are a lot exciting things to achieve and it’s all about prioritizing time and other resources.

How does your position at HNA differ to your previous positions?

Throughout my 20+ years of Investment Banking career, I have advised numerous clients on M&A, financing and risk management. Now, I’m part of the side which is receiving advice and making decisions.

How do you feel the company and your team are doing?

We are doing very well as a team. The investments which we have made recently performed well and we are happy to contribute to the company’s Fortune 500 success.

What is most satisfying about your job?

It would be the opportunity to look at interesting investments in a variety of industries.

How do you view HNA’s progress on internationalization?

I am very pleasantly surprised by how international HNA is. If we pride ourselves to be a Fortune 500 company, we must be able to compete in the international arenas.

Wallace Chen, IT Planning Director, HNA Group

Why did you decide to join HNA?

HNA has evolved speedily into Fortune 170 in recent years. The demand for information technology has become a global phenomenon. Meanwhile, HNA has continued its focus on internationalization demanding even more diverse talents. This creates an unprecedented platform helping IT planning talents to be rooted in China and expand to the world from a company with businesses across five continents and countless industries, which makes working at HNA Group an ideal choice.

What is your greatest challenge in your current position?

The company has developed into the world's leading enterprise. Its demands on information technology also reached a global level. The gap between demand and the status quo requires immediate action. Considering the company’s worldwide businesses crossing numerous fields, how to coordinate with various industries is a challenge that cannot be ignored.

What is most satisfying about your job?

The company provides a global platform. Moreover, because of its rapid business development, I am faced with an ever-changing market environment with complex challenges of globalization. Here lie numerous opportunities to participate and advance the development of the company, and to solve complex problems. Because of its velocity, every day involves new learnings through problem-solving.

How do you view HNA’s progress on internationalization?

Internationalization is the company’s established strategic direction. In the future, HNA will strive to be even more international. Therefore, the requirements for talents will reach a new height. It presents great opportunities for professionals and students interested in a global platform to achieve new career heights.

Vivian Cui, Head of Global Internal Audit, HNA International

Why did you decide to join HNA?

HNA is the first Chinese company I worked for in my career.  I switched from US corporations to a Chinese company because I saw HNA’s great development over the past years.  I chose HNA as I saw the huge development platform ahead, with many good opportunities, which are hard to find in other corporations.

What is your greatest challenge in your current position?

HNA has many M&A in recent years.  It is quite interesting and also challenging when someone views a company from an outsider’s point of view.   We audit these subsidiaries and each of them is a Fortune 500 Company.  That is to say, you audit and learn from these giant corporations each time, and it is an amazing experience.  Sometimes, those 500 Companies really did a good job, and we have to say, you need to bring yourself to the next level.

How does your position at HNA differ to your previous positions?

I need to respond faster and think quicker.   There are lots of new things happening every day that makes me feel full of energy.  Since HNA has many different industries, like financial, aviation, high-tech etc., working at HNA may multiple your work experience by 6 times!

How do you view HNA’s progress on internationalization?

Globalization is a big word.  I don't think globalization simply means opening offices everywhere.   I felt HNA tried hard to facilitate its people on that journey with adequate equipment.  For example, HNA provides its staff with many overseas training occasions, workshops with industry studies and exchange programs.  You may not see that many opportunities in a “mature” company.