Hainan Airlines Restarts Beijing-Oslo Flights After Five Years
Hainan Airlines is set to resume its nonstop service between Beijing and Oslo on March 22, reestablishing direct connectivity between mainland China and Norway after more than five years. The service, which was last operated from May to October 2019, will run three times weekly until October 25, utilizing a 292-seat Airbus A330-300.
This resumption marks a significant boost for both tourism and cultural exchanges between the two nations. Additionally, it is expected to have a considerable impact on Norway’s seafood industry, which is a crucial component of the cargo carried on this route. The Norwegian airport operator Avinor highlights the importance of this 4,337-mile service in supporting the thriving seafood trade, which saw Norwegian seafood exports reach a record NOK 44.1 billion ($4.1 billion) in the third quarter of 2024, with substantial trade volumes with China, Germany, and the UK.
The reintroduction of the Beijing-Oslo route is part of Hainan Airlines’ broader strategy to expand its network in Europe, where it plans to serve 17 destinations during the summer 2025 season. This network includes major cities such as Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, Manchester, and Prague, alongside the recently launched routes from Shenzhen to Madrid, and Chengdu to Vienna.
According to the latest schedules filed with OAG, Hainan Airlines aims to offer approximately 1.4 million two-way seats between China and Europe in summer 2025, which represents a 30% increase compared to summer 2024.
The overall traffic between China and Norway also shows promising trends, with around 58,000 two-way passengers recorded during the first 11 months of 2024, per preliminary figures from Sabre Market Intelligence. This compares to 97,000 passengers during the full calendar year of 2019, the last period when Hainan Airlines operated direct seasonal flights between the two countries.
This strategic expansion by Hainan Airlines not only underscores its commitment to enhancing its presence in Europe but also plays a vital role in facilitating economic and cultural exchanges between China and Norway, especially in critical sectors such as tourism and trade.
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