New Route of the Day (28 August 2023): Shenzhen Airlines between Shenzhen and Barcelona
Shenzhen Airlines launched flights from its hub in Shenzhen, in southeastern China, and Barcelona on Monday 28 August. The 2-weekly 10,042-kilometre service will be maintained on Mondays and Fridays with the 309-seat A330-300 aircraft. The Star Alliance member plans to increase frequencies to 3-weekly from 7 February 2024. The carrier faces no competition on the route.
Flight ZH9065 departs Shenzhen at 00:05 local time, arriving in Barcelona at 08.05 local time. The return service, operating as flight ZH9066, takes off from Spain’s second-largest city at 11:30 local time, touching back down in China at 07:00 local time the following morning,
What they said
Jaume Collboni, the Mayor of Barcelona, said: “Today we celebrated the first nonstop flight between Shenzhen and Barcelona. Our cities have a lot in common: modernity, technology, cosmopolitanism, passion and openness to the world. This new air connection will boost tourism and international trade, presenting a unique opportunity to boost our economy.”
Shenzhen is Barcelona’s second Chinese route
Shenzhen Airlines is operating flights to Barcelona for the first time, with the Spanish city becoming its second European destination after London LHR. The Star Alliance member’s part-owner, Air China, maintains Barcelona’s only other service to China, with the carrier maintaining flights between Beijing PEK and the Spanish city. Prior to the pandemic, Air China also operated services between Shanghai PVG and Barcelona.
Shenzhen Airlines is China’s fifth-largest carrier by capacity with over 43.5 million seats in 2023, according to Cirium schedules data. It predominately operates domestic flights, as well as international services within Asia.
The city of Shenzhen is located on the central coast of the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, bordering Hong Kong. With a population of 17.6 million, Shenzhen is the third most populous city by urban population in China after Shanghai and Beijing.
This year marks fifty years of diplomatic relations between Spain and China and the second anniversary since Shenzhen and Barcelona became sister cities.
