Sichuan Airlines continues to strengthen its presence in Europe with the announcement of a new direct route between Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Madrid-Barajas. This strategic move reinforces the growing dominance of Chinese airlines on routes between the Asian giant and Europe.
An Exclusive and Strategic Link
The new service, scheduled to begin on April 27, will operate four times a week and will become the only direct connection between Chengdu and Madrid. With this addition, Sichuan Airlines will be the fifth Chinese airline to fly to the Spanish capital, consolidating its presence in the European market.
The route will be operated using Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a capacity of 305 passengers: 24 in Business Class and 281 in Economy.
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Expansion in Europe: An Ambitious Plan
Currently, Sichuan Airlines connects Chengdu Tianfu Airport with four destinations in Europe: Istanbul, Moscow Sheremetyevo, Rome Fiumicino, and St. Petersburg. Additionally, there has been mention of the possibility of adding Athens to its network in the future.
Chengdu: A Growing Connection Center
Chengdu will become the seventh city in mainland China with a direct flight from Madrid. Currently, other Chinese airlines also connect Madrid with various Chinese cities:
- Air China: From Beijing Capital.
- Beijing Capital Airlines: From Hangzhou.
- China Eastern Airlines: From Shanghai Pudong and Wenzhou.
- Hainan Airlines: From Chongqing and Shenzhen.
Chinese Dominance on Europe-China Routes
This growth of Sichuan Airlines is part of a broader trend of Chinese airlines significantly increasing their footprint in Europe. By leveraging their ability to fly over Russian airspace, these companies achieve a considerable cost advantage over their European competitors.
While Chinese airlines are aggressively expanding their operations, European carriers have reduced their services. In 2024, Lufthansa and British Airways canceled several routes to China, and Scandinavian Airlines and Virgin Atlantic completely withdrew from the Chinese market.
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