Full of Blessings! Mazu Takes a Free Xiamen Airlines Flight to Beijing
On December 18, 2024, Xiamen Airlines flight MF8107 welcomed a very special passenger - Mazu, the revered "Goddess of the Sea." Departing from Fuzhou, she was destined for the Beijing Mazu Culture Center for enshrinement.
In a modern take on tradition, Mazu was issued her own boarding pass, listing her name as "LINMO (Lin Mo)." For this historic flight, Xiamen Airlines provided her with its first free ticket. This unique gesture was made possible through the dedication of Egret Points by Mazu's devotees. Passengers who receive the "Mazu Egret Miles Card" can earn an additional 599 Egret Points for each flight on Mazu temple-related routes, with 399 points being donated to Mazu's virtual Egret account to support her travels.
Seamless Coordination, Overflowing with Blessings
To honor this celestial voyage, Xiamen Airlines meticulously upgraded the flight to a spacious Boeing 787 Dreamliner, ensuring unparalleled comfort for the divine travelers. Accompanying Mazu were imposing statues such as "Thousand-Mile Eye" and "Favorable Wind Ear," along with an array of props and accessories. This required meticulous planning for cabin and cargo loading. Xiamen Airlines' maintenance engineers conducted thorough measurements and rehearsals to ensure the aircraft was fully prepared for the transport.
At 9:40 AM, over two hours before the flight, the check-in counter was already bustling with activity. Team members, dressed in traditional Chinese attire featuring auspicious patterns crafted with Beijing embroidery, welcomed Mazu's statue, along with "Thousand-Mile Eye," "Favorable Wind Ear," and two attendant statues. The large entourage and the requirement for manual security checks of the sacred statues made the process time-consuming. To streamline the process, Xiamen Airlines provided a dedicated check-in counter and security channel, facilitating a smooth early boarding.
At 10:30 AM, following the ground ceremony, the Mazu team officially boarded the plane, accompanied by multiple statues. A large red carpet was rolled out, and the Mazu statue was seated in business class. The Xiamen Airlines maintenance team, who had been waiting, fastened a specially prepared extended seatbelt for her and secured her with multiple red ribbons. This ensured both aesthetic appeal and safety during the flight.
"For centuries, Mazu culture has traveled the world alongside the Chinese diaspora. May all who encounter her presence be blessed with good fortune and joy.” Amidst the clouds, the cabin was adorned with "Mazu Enters Beijing with Xiamen Airlines" stickers, creating a festive atmosphere. The special cabin announcement immersed passengers in a joyful ambiance.
A Deep Bond with Mazu, Nurtured by Xiamen Airlines
Xiamen Airlines has long been a champion and practitioner of Mazu culture. The airline's connection with Mazu began in 1997 when the golden statue of Mazu from Meizhou Island visited Taiwan on a Xiamen Airlines flight. Since then, the airline has played a crucial role in transportation and security, whether it was during the 2017 visit to Malaysia and Singapore or the 2019 visit to Thailand.
In each transport, Xiamen Airlines has seamlessly integrated high-standard services with meticulous security measures. This includes specially designed boarding passes and seats, transforming Mazu's journey into more than just a simple point-to-point flight. These thoughtful initiatives have attracted considerable attention from mainstream media and the public.
The successful and efficient transportation has further strengthened the bond between Xiamen Airlines and Mazu. On May 1, this year, during the 1,064th anniversary of Mazu's birth, Xiamen Airlines signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the People's Government of Putian City on Meizhou Island, reaffirming their commitment to expanding the international influence of Mazu culture. Since then, in November, Xiamen Airlines has fully launched initiatives to disseminate Mazu culture. This includes featuring Meizhou Mazu IP images on the seat headrests of its fleet and publishing Mazu culture-related content in the "Xiamen Airlines" magazine. Their participation as a strategic partner in the 9th World Mazu Culture Forum further demonstrates Xiamen Airlines' dedication to protecting and promoting excellent traditional Chinese culture.
Xiamen Airlines operates a fleet of 218 aircraft and offers over 400 domestic and international routes, transporting nearly 40 million passengers annually. Looking ahead, the airline plans to use its extensive global network and brand influence to share stories of Chinese and Mazu culture on the world stage. By doing so, Xiamen Airlines aims to strengthen the sense of identity and belonging among overseas compatriots to their homeland through cultural connections.