Hainan Airlines Expands in Austria with New Chengdu-Vienna Route
Hainan Airlines is set to launch a new route between Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) and Vienna Airport (VIE) on December 1, marking its second direct service to Vienna. This new year-round route, which will operate three times weekly with Airbus A330-300 aircraft, will establish the first direct connection between Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, and Vienna.
Vienna Airport CEO Julian Jäger emphasized the route’s importance for strengthening ties between Europe and Asia, creating increased opportunities for tourism and economic exchange. “With support from the Austrian Consulate General, we’re enhancing access to Sichuan,” he said, noting Vienna’s strong recovery in China-Europe connections.
Hainan Airlines currently operates a Shenzhen-Vienna route, which resumed in June 2024 after a pandemic-related suspension. The addition of Chengdu will further bolster Vienna’s connectivity to China, joining existing services by Austrian Airlines and Air China from Vienna to Shanghai and Beijing, respectively.
The new route comes after Austrian authorities recently blocked China Eastern Airlines from launching Shanghai-Vienna flights, citing competitive concerns due to the use of Russian airspace by Chinese carriers, which remains inaccessible to European airlines. This has driven some European airlines, including Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, to suspend services to mainland China due to competition and route inefficiencies.
Despite challenges faced by European carriers, Chinese airlines are expanding their footprint across Europe. Hainan’s Chengdu-Vienna route is expected to drive tourism and increase accessibility, helping Vienna further attract high-value Chinese travelers.
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