August the 20th, 2026 – Beijing and Zagreb are now connected by a frequent airline for the first time, and tickets are already on sale.
Sinisa Malus writes for Poslovni that China is ready to launch its new route between Beijing and Zagreb via Bucharest on 4 September, which will be the first regular air connection between China and Croatia. Speaking at an event at the Romanian Embassy in Beijing, the president of China National Aviation Holding, Cui Xiaofeng, said that the new route “will further strengthen and enrich Air China’s network in the Central and Eastern European market,” while at the same time establishing a more convenient air bridge for trade, economic cooperation, cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges between China and Croatia.
tickets are already on sale
Air China announced that the route is part of its strategy to deepen its presence in Central and Eastern Europe and further expand its international network, reports Ex-Yu Aviation News. The Chinese carrier also commented on the three-hour stop in Bucharest, noting that the relatively long wait will allow passengers continuing to Zagreb to complete passport control formalities there, meaning they will not have to do so upon arrival in the Croatian capital. Air China plans to operate year-round services between the three cities and has already put tickets on sale for the 2027 summer season.
Dario Mihelin, croatian Ambassador to China
I’m convinced that this flight will make it easier for Chinese tourists to travel to Europe, not only to Croatia but also to neighbouring countries. Passengers can book tickets exclusively between Bucharest and Zagreb, although prices on that sector will vary depending on the number of connecting passengers. Chinese tour operators have already started selling tourist packages for Croatia that include the new flights. During the upcoming winter season, Air China will offer 34,980 seats on its routes to Zagreb. Croatian Ambassador to China Dario Mihelin stressed that this is truly a historic moment for Croatia, as China and Croatia, or rather the capitals Beijing and Zagreb, will for the first time be connected by a regular year-round air route.
an opportunity for not only croatia but the immediate region
“I’m sure that without the coronavirus pandemic, this flight would certainly have been launched much earlier, given that almost half a million Chinese visitors already came to Croatia in 2019. That same year we were already discussing a feasibility study for this flight with representatives of a number of airlines, including Air China,” Mihelin said.
The ambassador added that this route will contribute to better people-to-people connections, strengthening not only tourism cooperation but also economic relations and trade between Croatia and China. “I’m of the belief that this flight will make it easier for Chinese tourists to travel to Europe, not only to Croatia but also to neighbouring countries, such as Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro,” Mihelin concluded.
