This summer, Air China is broadening its presence in Europe by launching a new direct flight to Milan from Chengdu, marking a significant expansion of its European operations.

The airline will initiate the route from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport to Milan Malpensa Airport, representing its sixth connection to Italy and the fourth specifically to Milan. The service, set to begin on July 29, will operate thrice weekly using the Airbus A350-900. This new connection extends the route’s distance to 5,008 miles (4,352 nautical miles) and is a substantial increase from its pre-COVID offerings in Milan.

Prior to the pandemic in 2019, Air China operated two Milan routes originating from Beijing Capital and Shanghai Pudong. Post-pandemic, the airline resumed its Beijing service in October 2021 and added a new route from Wenzhou in November 2022, followed by a reinstatement of the Shanghai route in March 2023.

OAG Schedules Analyser data reveals that with the addition of the Chengdu service, Air China’s weekly seat capacity to Milan will jump to approximately 12,700 seats, an increase from 8,700 seats in 2019, and making it the airline’s 32nd nonstop service to Europe.

Analysis for July indicates that Air China’s primary European markets are Germany, the UK, and Italy, with Spain and France also ranking highly. By late July, the airline is set to offer roughly 115,000 two-way weekly seats across its European routes, an increase of 62% year-over-year and 17% compared to 2019.

For Milan Malpensa Airport, this route adds to its portfolio as the eighth direct service to mainland China, complemented by flights from Hainan Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, and Italian carrier Neos.

This expansion follows Air China’s recent launch of a Beijing-Madrid-Havana route and the resumption of flights to London Gatwick. Additionally, the airline is set to start a twice-weekly service to Dhaka, Bangladesh from Beijing on July 10.

Moreover, Air China is enhancing its commitment to international travelers by partnering with the New Terminal One at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, part of a major $19 billion redevelopment set to complete in 2026. This partnership aims to improve the travel experience significantly for Chinese visitors to the U.S. Currently, Air China operates out of JFK’s existing Terminal 1.

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