Giant Pandas, Major Partners: Vienna Airport and Hainan Airlines assume a sponsorship at Schönbrunn Zoo and invite people to win a special trip to China
| Press releases
They are rare, fascinating and they link Vienna and China in a very special way. The two giant pandas Lan Yun and He Feng in Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna now have two new godparents, namely Vienna Airport and Hainan Airlines. A special prize competition is being launched to mark the beginning of this partnership, featuring the top prize of a journey to Chengdu i.e., to the home of the pandas. This includes a direct flight operated by Hainan Airlines, a hotel stay and admission to the famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Anyone interested can participate right now at www.viennaairport.com/en/pandas. The sponsorship was symbolically sealed within the context of a joint photo session at Schönbrunn Zoo with Eric Zhuo Zhang, General Manager of Hainan Airlines Vienna Office, Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck, Director of Schönbrunn Zoo, and Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport.
“This godparenthood stands for our close ties to China. At the same time, it sends out a strong signal in favour of species protection. Lan Yun and He Feng are fluffy ambassadors for their endangered counterparts in the wild and symbolise the friendly bridge linking our cultures. Hainan Airlines is an important partner of Vienna Airport. The direct flight connection to Chengdu makes an exciting destination in Asia easily accessible from Vienna. In this way, we are able to create a powerful message on behalf of tourism, and international cooperation together with Hainan Airlines and Schönbrunn Zoo,” states Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport.
“As an international airline, Hainan Airlines not only connects cities but also cultures, economic regions, and people with each other. The collaboration with Schönbrunn Zoo and Vienna Airport is a special honour for us, and a wonderful example how aviation can promote cultural exchange,” explains Eric Zhuo Zhang, General Manager of Hainan Airlines Vienna Office.
“Giant Pandas inspire people all around the world and stand for the necessity of global protective measures, perhaps more than any other animal. The fact that we were able to attract two such strong partners like Vienna Airport and Hainan Airlines to support our panda project shows how multifaceted actively practiced species protection can be,” says Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck, Director of Schönbrunn Zoo.
Symbolic partnership of Hainan Airlines and Vienna Airport
The highly symbolic sponsorship of the two giant pandas at Schönbrunn Zoo highlights the close ties between Hainan Airlines and Vienna Airport as well as between China and Austria. “Lan Yun” and “He Feng” were both born in the Panda breeding centre in Chengdu and have been living in Vienna since April 2025. Thanks to this godparenthood, both the airport and the airline are supporting international species protection efforts and the preservation of biodiversity as well as the home of the pandas at Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna.
Chengdu: Hometown of the pandas with about 20 million inhabitants in Southwestern China
The province of Sichuan, with its capital Chengdu, is home to the famous giant pandas, with the most nature reserves in the country. Here, they are protected, researched and bred in panda stations. Moreover, the metropolis is the capital city and thus the economic and culture centre of Sichuan Province, known for its diverse cuisine and rich cultural heritage. Chengdu is an important junction in China’s “Belt and Road” project and the starting point for trips to the impressive Tibetan Highlands and the renowned Leshan Giant Buddha, a monumental statue from the 8th century. Hainan Airlines links Vienna and Chengdu throughout the entire year, operating three direct weekly flights, namely on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The flight from Vienna to Chengdu takes about ten hours, featuring modern comfort and excellent service on board. In addition to Chengdu, Hainan Airlines also offers a direct flight connection to Shenzhen, the pulsating technology hub in Southern China and one of Asia’s most dynamic economic regions.
Exclusive prize competition: Experience the pandas up close in Chengdu
Panda fans can particularly look forward to this prize competition. Vienna Airport, Hainan Airlines and Schönbrunn Zoo are jointly inviting people to experience pandas up close. There will be a prize draw, with the first prize featuring two tickets on a Hainan Airlines flight to Chengdu, including admission to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a hotel stay via the Trip.com platform and lounge access to the VIENNA Lounge at Vienna Airport. The second and third prizes are annual passes to Schönbrunn Zoo. All details and Conditions of Participation can be found at www.viennaairport.com/eh/pandas. Information is also available in Slovak at www.viennaairport.com/sk/pandas, in Hungarian at www.viennaairport.com/hu/pandak, and in Czech at www.viennaairport.com/cz/pandas.
Vienna Airport – Gateway to the pandas (and to the world)
As a central flight hub in the heart of Europe, Vienna Airport not only links destinations but also people and cultures – offering a high service quality at the same time. For example, the “VIENNA Lounge,” recently named Europe’s best lounge, provides a unique travel experience. Passengers can relax while enjoying a stylish ambience, featuring regional and international cuisine, Austrian art, and an impressive panoramic view as well as a terrace enabling people to observe starts and landings. All the information you need to travel to and park at the airport, as well as on shops and restaurants, lounges, security checks, services on departure and arrival as well as other useful travel tips are available on the Vienna Airport website at www.viennaairport.com.
Hainan Airlines: An Outstanding Premium Airline
Hainan Airlines, the multiple award-winning Chinese airline which was granted the 5-Star rating by Skytrax, stands for modern long-haul comfort, outstanding service, and innovation. The direct flight connection to Chengdu is part of the growing partnership with Vienna Airport, and an ideal springboard for the next long-distance journey. In addition to Chengdu, Hainan Airlines also offers direct flights to Shenzhen, thus serving as an indispensable partner for the connectedness between Austria and China. More information about the airline and booking possibilities can be found at www.hainanairlines.com.
Longstanding panda tradition in Schönbrunn
For more than 20 years, giant pandas have been living at Schönbrunn Zoo as part of a successful research collaboration with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) – a privilege enjoyed by only a few zoos worldwide. The current pair of pandas arrived at Schönbrunn Zoo in April 2025 and have been on display to visitors since May. The newly designed Chinese-style panda enclosure ranks among one of the most modern in Europe. Further information about Schönbrunn Zoo is available at www.zoovienna.at.
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