Mainland Chinese Airlines Announce New International Routes

Several prominent Mainland Chinese airlines have announced their expansion into international markets, flagging fresh services that connect cities such as Chongqing and Wenzhou to major destinations like Paris, Madrid, and Sydney.

A member of the SkyTeam alliance, China Eastern Airlines is all set to introduce a Wenzhou-Madrid service, which will operate twice a week. The flights for this route are slated to begin on 22 November.

Hainan Airlines is marking its return to the Chongqing-Paris CDG route on 28 November. However, initially, this service is limited to once a week, specifically on Tuesdays. Additionally, the airline will broaden its connectivity to Russia. Starting 19 October, it will launch services connecting Dalian in China’s northeast to Vladivostok.

Operating under the HNA Group, Hainan Airlines’ sister carrier, Tianjin Airlines, has also made its plans public. The airline intends to roll out a Chongqing-Sydney route, with flights scheduled twice a week. This new offering will commence on 27 November.

While Mainland Chinese airlines are expanding their horizons, airlines from neighboring countries are also increasing their footprint in China.

The Singapore-based Jetstar Asia is on track to launch a new route on 28 December. This will connect Singapore to Wuxi in China’s southeastern Jiangsu province. Notably, this will be the low-cost carrier’s second foray into the Chinese market, following its existing route to Haikou on Hainan island.

Indonesia’s TransNusa is venturing into the Chinese market with its thrice-weekly flights to Guangzhou. Operations for this route, facilitated by its A320s, will kick off on 16 November. An interesting fact about TransNusa is its backing by Chinese investors, making it the pioneer foreign operator of the Comac’s ARJ21 regional jet.

These new routes highlight the increasing interconnectedness of the Asian aviation market and the continued emphasis on China as a critical hub for global air travel.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, chinatravelnews.com