Sichuan Airlines Launches New Madrid Flight
Sichuan Airlines is set to expand its European network by launching nonstop flights between Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) and Madrid Adolfo Suárez-Barajas Airport (MAD). The new route, scheduled to begin on April 27, will operate four times per week, creating the only nonstop connection between Chengdu and Madrid.
This latest addition will make Madrid the ninth nonstop European destination from Chengdu for Sichuan Airlines. Currently, the carrier serves four major European cities from TFU, including Istanbul, Moscow Sheremetyevo, Rome Fiumicino, and St. Petersburg—with future plans possibly including Athens. The new 5,723-mile (4,973-nautical-mile) flight further solidifies the growing influence of Chinese airlines on China-Europe routes.
In the competitive China-Europe market, Sichuan Airlines joins other Chinese carriers operating out of Chengdu. Air China offers nonstop flights from TFU to Frankfurt, London Heathrow, and Milan Malpensa, while Hainan Airlines connects the airport to Vienna. These services contribute to Chengdu’s status as a key gateway for Chinese passengers traveling to Europe.
Chengdu will become the seventh mainland Chinese city with a direct connection to Madrid. Currently, nonstop services to Madrid are offered by Air China from Beijing Capital; by Beijing Capital Airlines from Hangzhou; by China Eastern Airlines from Shanghai Pudong and Wenzhou; and by Hainan Airlines from Chongqing and Shenzhen.
Recent data from Sabre Market Intelligence highlights the strong demand for China-Europe travel. In 2024, the Madrid-Chengdu city pair ranked as the 10th largest between Madrid and Chinese cities, with approximately 5,300 two-way origin-destination passengers. Additionally, Chengdu-Madrid was the sixth largest Chengdu-Europe city pair last year.
This expansion reflects a broader trend of Chinese carriers aggressively growing their European networks amid a pullback from European airlines. Over the past year, several Chinese airlines have launched new routes, capitalizing on their cost advantages, including the ability to fly over Russian airspace—a benefit that has enabled lower operating costs compared to European rivals. In contrast, European carriers have been scaling back their China operations due to rising costs and diminished demand. Notably, Lufthansa and British Airways have recently dropped routes to China, while Scandinavian Airlines and Virgin Atlantic have withdrawn entirely.
As Sichuan Airlines continues to broaden its European footprint, the new Madrid service is expected to provide a significant boost in connectivity for travelers between China and Europe, reinforcing the carrier’s dominant position in the region.
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