Air China is preparing to launch its new three weekly service between Beijing and Zagreb via Bucharest on September 4, marking the first scheduled air link between China and Croatia. Speaking at a promotional event at the Romanian Embassy in Beijing, China National Aviation Holding Chairman, Cui Xiaofeng, said the new service would “further strengthen and enrich Air China’s network in the Central and Eastern European market”, while establishing a more convenient air bridge for trade, economic cooperation, cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges between China and Croatia. Air China said the route forms part of its strategy to deepen its presence in Central and Eastern Europe and further expand its international network.
The Chinese carrier also addressed the three-hour stopover in Bucharest, noting that the relatively long layover will allow passengers continuing to Zagreb to complete passport control formalities there, meaning they will not need to do so upon arrival in the Croatian capital. Air China plans to maintain year-round operations between the three cities and has already put tickets on sale for the upcoming 2027 summer season. Travellers can also book tickets exclusively between Bucharest and Zagreb, although fares on the sector will vary depending on the number of connecting passengers. Chinese tour operators have already begun selling holiday packages to Croatia using the new flights. During the upcoming winter season, Air China will offer 34.980 seats on its Zagreb services, with all flights operated by the Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
Chang Jian, Deputy Director General of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Department of European Affairs, called it a “long-awaited” route and said it was the result of joint efforts by China, Romania and Croatia. He said it marks both the restoration of scheduled passenger flights between Beijing and Bucharest and the first direct passenger air link between China and Croatia. More significantly, he described it as opening “a new air corridor between China and Southeast European countries, as well as between China and Europe”.
The Croatian Ambassador to China, Dario Mihelin, noted, “This is truly a historic moment for Croatia, since China and Croatia, namely the capitals Beijing and Zagreb, will be connected by a year-around regular air route for the first time. I am certain that without the pandemic period, this flight would certainly have been launched much earlier, since almost half a million Chinese visitors had already visited Croatia in 2019. That same year, we were already discussing the feasibility study of this flight with representatives of a number of airlines, including Air China”. The Ambassador added, “This air route will contribute to better people-to-people connections, strengthening not only tourist exchanges, but economic relations and trade between Croatia and China. I am confident that this flight will make it easier for Chinese tourists to travel to Europe, not only to Croatia but also to neighbouring countries, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro”.
Ok, I understand the 3 hour wait on the flight from Beijing now for the passport control formalities, but why the 3 hour wait on the flight to Beijing?
ReplyDeleteSo that a widebody aircraft can get cleaned after a long haul flight and prepared for another one.
DeleteHow is Zagreb-Bucharest a long flight that needs 3 hours to prepare? Read once again what I wrote.
DeleteIronically the turnaround time in Zagreb is shorter than the stop in Bucharest
DeleteI don't understand your question. The same passport formalities exist in both directions. From PEK you have to enter Schengen at OTP, and towards PEK you have to exit Schengen at OTP.
DeleteYes you are right. I thought for some reason you would exit in Croatia on the way back. My mistake.
DeleteThe stop in Bucharest is longer because that's where the crew change takes place
DeleteGood luck! Wishing Air China a successful service
ReplyDeleteI must ask, how does the ambassador expect that passengers will transfer to Montenegro considering no airline flies between Croatia and Montenegro?
ReplyDeleteBy rent-a-car or bus, same as for Slovenia? Chinese are known for exploring the wider area when travelling abroad…
DeletePSO Montenegro includes ZAG and it's supposed to start soon. Anyhow, even with it, I don't see why would someone from TGD rely on ZAG connections (which might not even be on the same days when Air China comes to ZAG) and go through two in and out Schengen controls and 3 hours stop in BUH, with existing multiple daily connections to BEG and nonstop Hainan flights. So ambasador, with all due respect, speaks BS
DeleteDon't forget the fact IST and VIE maintain quite a strong network in both China and Montenegro, so they're more likely transfer options regardless.
DeleteTjese flights will mostly just help Croatia and, to an extent, Slovenia and Bosnia
Hopefully more Asian carriers will come.
ReplyDeleteWill Croatia Airlines codeshare on these flights?
ReplyDeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteGreat news for Zagreb. Even with the stop in Bucharest, having Air China in the market is a significant development and should help bring more Chinese tourists to Croatia.
ReplyDeleteZagreb didn't have widebody service in the winter until now.
Delete^ how is that related to the comment?
DeleteIt feels as a significant development for the airport.
DeleteStop in OTP, especially so long, is demotivating.
DeleteStar Alliance hubs offer shorter connections. This route will be used by Chinese tourists though I don't know why they would fly into ZAG via OTP when there are so many nonstop options to places like VIE or BUD.
Delete..or BEG.
DeleteThere are no connections via BEG to PEK from ZAG.
DeleteOnly destinations which are offered are PVG and CAN.
09.18
DeleteZAG had scheduled winter and year-round long-haul flights by JAT, Pan Am, Air Canada, Korean Air, Malaysian and Emirates. And it would have had more year-round long-haul flights than BEG today, if it had flag carrier similar to Air Serbia, rather then humiliated midget and shameful feeder full of corruption and incompetence
Emirates and Malaysia were seasonal.
DeleteZAG was the only seasonal destination in their network.
09; 46 - Hainan flies to BEG from PEK without some stupid 3 hour stops.
DeletePassport control in. Bucharest will be interesting. Usually there are 3 booths working and they have placed the cameras so low everyone has to kneel to get their photo taken. I haven't seen such a dysfunctional major airport in Europe in my life.
ReplyDeleteIrrespective of that, I hope the route works and that the stop is eliminated in the future.
No way.
DeleteThis is without a doubt a major development for all of us and the whole region will no doubt profit from this.
DeleteYou're tottaly right. BUC is one of the worst options for EES entry to the EU.
DeleteThe 3-hour stop is definitely the weak point. I mean DXB-MIA-BOG has only a 2 hour stop. If they could reduce it this would become a much more attractive option.
ReplyDeleteI am excited, are you excited guys?
ReplyDeleteAbout waiting three hours in Bucharest?
DeleteAirbus A330-200 is amazing.
DeleteAir China A332 are extremely outdated, check out some pics online. They are stuck in the early 2000s product.
DeleteLet's hope this route does well and Air China sends the A350.
What is there to prepare about?
ReplyDeleteThey should rather have launched PEK-OTP-TIA or DBV.
That three hour stop is disrespectful and humiliating, offering zero advantage vs. other players.
This is a direct flight to Bucharest with an ad-hoc intra-European sector, nothing more. This ain't a long-hail flight.
You have to understand that for a decade now, ZAG has desperately tried to set up long-haul flights. So far they were not successful as many have left. Korean Air left and did not return. Emirates tried ZAG and failed, one can even say that FZ isn't doing all that great.
DeleteAir Canada came and went and so on.
So far only seasonal YYZ works because of diaspora while ICN keeps struggling. Let's see if they have more luck with these Beijing flights.
ZAG simply can't sustain long-haul flights year-round, same as Bratislava, no need to force it.
DeleteZAG-YYZ has been operated by Air Transat for 10 years now.
DeleteThe year in your world has only 3 months?
Delete@anon 10:33 Transat doesn't fly year round to any country, it's a leasure airline. Check your sources.
DeleteThey fly year round to Mexico.
DeleteJust guessing, maybe the Chinese have a different mindset and wouldn't mind the 3 hrs layover if they find other advantages such as crew in their own language or their own cuisine, or acceptable prices...
ReplyDeleteDoubt it given the huge number of nonstop flights we were getting from all over China.
Delete3 hours in OTP is with immigration, but in ZAG they will just walk out. So it's not big deal like it sounds
DeleteYes, it's fantastic if you don't take the three hour wait into consideration. This is a longer layover than what LH Group offers. I think Austrian Airlines offers an hour connection.
DeletePeople making drama for 3 hours stop for passport control at OTP, seems that everyone used to fly business or private here. 3 hours are nothing, 20 min to get out, 1 hour probably for costums and 20min to board and time flied
ReplyDeleteYeah, 1h40 left, nothing really 🤦.
DeleteIt is not drama, it is just pointless when you can fly through Vienna or Munich and connect in an hour. Bucharest isn't exactly a dream airport for connections
DeleteGreat for having a smoke, if hopefully possible at OTP.
DeleteFirst of all, mo one is forcing you to take this flight. Secondly there are people who doesn’t make drama of 3 hours stop; and prefer it to a hour connecting flight that can be missed due xyz reasons. Thirdly price is also to country.
DeleteThey have Wizzair strong presence at OTP. ZAG has Ryanair.
DeleteFor 330€ OW it's ok
ReplyDelete