Air China will launch three-times-weekly service between Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Henri Coandă International Airport, Bucharest (OTP), from 4 September 2026. The service operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays using Airbus A330-200 aircraft configured with 265 seats, per LinkedIn / Emerging Travel News. The flight continues onward from Bucharest to Zagreb on the same aircraft and flight number; passengers may board or disembark at either European city, The Balkan Guide reports.
The Bucharest service restores Air China's presence in Romania, following its July 2026 launch of a Beijing–Venice route as part of continued European network expansion. Air China now serves 27 destinations in Europe with approximately 260 weekly flights, according to Xinhua via Big News Network, which cited Air China's 11 August 2026 announcement.
Chinese carriers hold a structural advantage on Europe routes because they can use Russian airspace, allowing shorter routings than European airlines, which have been barred from Russian airspace since 2022. Aviation Week notes that Chinese airlines now account for approximately 83% of China-Europe capacity excluding Russia.
Sources
- Big News Network / Xinhua — Air China to launch new route to Romania, Croatia
- The Balkan Guide — Air China Launches Nonstop Beijing–Bucharest–Zagreb Route from September 2026
- Aviation Week — 50 New Routes Launching In September 2026
Sources & references (4)
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