More international flights scheduled for China's summer-autumn air transport season
China Eastern Airlines flight MU721, operated by a C919 jetliner, takes off from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 1, 2025. (Xinhua)
China's civil aviation sector began implementing new schedules for its summer-autumn air transport season on March 29, with international flight services rising 1.8 percent year on year, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
The new season, which runs from March 29 to Oct. 24, will see 222 domestic and foreign airlines operating a total of 121,000 passenger and cargo flights per week, roughly in line with the same period last year.
In total, 191 domestic and foreign airlines are scheduled to operate 21,047 international flights per week, up 1.8 percent from a year earlier. The network will span 86 countries, with Cyprus newly added as a destination, according to the CAAC.
On domestic routes, 61 airlines plan to operate 97,428 passenger flights and 2,538 cargo flights per week.
Among them, 34 carriers will launch 434 new domestic routes, which will mainly link China's northwest, northeast and southwest regions with eastern and central-southern China.
Air China resumes direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang
Air China resumes direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on March 30.
According to Air China's website, flight CA121 departed Beijing Capital International Airport at 8:05 a.m. Beijing time on March 30 and is scheduled to arrive at Pyongyang airport at around 11:00 a.m. local time.
Air China launches new direct flights connecting Brussels with Beijing, Chengdu
The inaugural direct flight of Air China from Brussels to Beijing gets a water salute at Brussels Airport in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2026. Chinese carrier Air China launched a direct passenger service between Brussels and Beijing, China's capital, on Tuesday, and will launch another between Brussels and Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Thursday, adding new air links between Belgium and China. (Air China/Handout via Xinhua)
Chinese carrier Air China launched a direct passenger service between Brussels and Beijing, China's capital, on March 24, and will launch another between Brussels and Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Thursday, adding new air links between Belgium and China.
The Brussels to Beijing service will operate daily while the Brussels to Chengdu route will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, the airline said.
With the launch of the two routes, Air China will expand its European network to 23 destinations, operating regular weekly scheduled flights and boosting connectivity for people-to-people exchanges, business cooperation, and cultural ties between Asia and Europe, according to the airline.
Guests attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the inaugural direct flight from Brussels to Beijing operated by Air China at Brussels Airport in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2026. Chinese carrier Air China launched a direct passenger service between Brussels and Beijing, China's capital, on Tuesday, and will launch another between Brussels and Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Thursday, adding new air links between Belgium and China. (Xinhua/Lyu You)
Leon Verhallen, director of aviation development at Brussels Airport, said Air China's entry into the Belgian market would help strengthen Brussels Airport's position as the gateway to Belgium.
He said the new direct flights would support China's visa-free policy, as easier travel procedures had already encouraged more Belgians to consider visiting China, citing his daughter, who is set to travel there in September, as an example.
"The airport already has flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Shenzhen. Now, having more capacity to China and also opening Chengdu, home to the famous giant pandas, will definitely help tourism promotion," he said, adding that the new connections would also further enhance cultural and economic ties between Belgium and China.
Guests and crew members pose for a group photo on the apron at Brussels Airport in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2026. Chinese carrier Air China launched a direct passenger service between Brussels and Beijing, China's capital, on Tuesday, and will launch another between Brussels and Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Thursday, adding new air links between Belgium and China. (Xinhua/Lyu You)
Bonnie Schieren, a passenger on the inaugural flight, told Xinhua that it was her first visit to China and said she believed the new service would make travel between the two continents much easier and more comfortable. "I'm sure it won't be my last time going to China," she said.
