On Aug. 11, Air China Limited (“Air China”) held a route launch event themed “Linked by the Silk Road, Bound for Europe” at the Embassy of Romania in China, announcing that it will launch the Beijing-Bucharest-Zagreb route on Sept. 04. Officials and representatives from China National Aviation Holding Corporation Limited, the Embassy of Romania in China, the Embassy of Croatia in China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Beijing Capital International Airport and other relevant organizations, as well as guests from the Croatian National Tourist Board, Air China’s corporate clients and the media, gathered at the event to witness the official launch of this route linking China with the heartland of Central and Eastern Europe.

China enjoys longstanding traditional friendship with Romania and Croatia, and their economic and trade ties as well as people-to-people cultural exchanges have grown increasingly close. Romania has a rich cultural heritage. Its capital, Bucharest, known as the “City of Joy,” is the largest inland city on the Balkan Peninsula and the country’s political, economic and cultural center. Croatia, nestled between mountains and the sea, boasts magnificent scenery. Its capital, Zagreb, founded in the 11th century, is steeped in history and is a world-renowned cultural and tourism destination. The upcoming Beijing-Bucharest-Zagreb international passenger route will further strengthen Air China’s network in the Central and Eastern European aviation market, bring China and the heartland of Central and Eastern Europe significantly closer in time and space, and provide passengers with more convenient travel options. It is both a practical step by Air China to deepen its presence in the Central and Eastern European market and improve its international route network, and a vivid example of efforts to promote two-way exchanges and deepen cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries.

As China’s exclusive national flag carrier, Air China has consistently taken the initiative to serve the country’s broader drive for high-standard opening-up and to build air links between China and Europe. As a major carrier in China-Europe air transport, Air China continues to optimize its network and increase capacity in the China-Europe market. It currently serves 27 destinations in Europe and operates nearly 260 China-Europe flights each week.