New Route of the Day (4 September 2026): Air China between Beijing PEK and Zagreb via Bucharest
Air China commenced flights between Beijing PEK and Zagreb, operating via Bucharest on Friday 4 September. The new service will be maintained 3-weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with the 265-seat A330-200 aircraft. The carrier faces no competition on the route and becomes the sole carrier between Bucharest and Zagreb as the Star Alliance member has secured fifth-freedom traffic rights to sell tickets on the sector.
Travellers to and from the Croatian capital will complete passport and immigration formalities in Romania in both directions, while departures from Zagreb will use the airport’s Schengen area. The intermediate stop lasts three hours on both the outbound and return journeys.
What they said
Monika Udovičić, State Secretary at the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sport, said: “The launch of this service represents an important milestone for Croatian tourism, as it strengthens our connectivity with one of the world’s most significant outbound travel markets. Chinese visitors are of great importance to Croatia’s tourism sector, and I am particularly pleased that this new route will provide them with even more convenient and accessible opportunities to travel to Croatia. Building a strong presence in long-haul markets requires sustained efforts through improved connectivity, targeted promotion and long-term partnerships, and this new service is a significant step in that direction. Enhanced air links also create greater opportunities for economic, investment, and sports cooperation, further strengthening the relationship between Croatia and China.”
Qi Qianjin, Ambassador of China to Croatia, added, “This China – Croatia flight is more than an air route, it is a bridge of friendship connecting the hearts of our two peoples. Its launch will further unlock the potential for bilateral cooperation and give a strong impetus to exchanges and mutual learning in trade, tourism, culture, sports, education and other fields”
Air China expands Europe network
Air China has significantly expanded its European footprint during 2026, adding a string of new routes while also increasing frequencies on several existing services.
In March, the carrier launched daily flights between Beijing and Brussels BRU alongside a 3-weekly Chengdu – Brussels BRU service, followed in April by a new daily link between Beijing PKX and Frankfurt. Milan MXP gained a daily service to Beijing PKX in June, while Venice joined the airline’s network in July with 4-weekly flights from Beijing PEK.
Air China also introduced seasonal Chengdu – London LGW flights during the summer and increased capacity on routes including Beijing – Geneva and Beijing – Copenhagen. By early September, the carrier’s European network covered 27 destinations with close to 260 flights per week.
A further new route is planned for 26 October, when the airline will begin serving Reykjavik 3-weekly via Copenhagen, marking its entry into Iceland.
During the January – September period, Air China had 5.1 million seats on flights between China and Europe, representing an increase of 17.1% year-on-year.
