Air China is planning to introduce flights between Beijing and Zagreb, establishing the first-ever scheduled air service between the two cities. According to the “Croatian Aviation” portal, the service is expected to operate via Bucharest, with the airline to be granted fifth-freedom traffic rights between the Romanian and Croatian capitals, allowing it to sell tickets solely for that sector as well. The route has recently been vacated by Croatia Airlines, which discontinued its seasonal Zagreb – Bucharest service. Air China plans to deploy its Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which seats between 237 and 283 passengers, depending on configuration.
Air China’s entry would also provide strategic benefits for Croatia Airlines, given both carriers’ Star Alliance membership, enabling expanded onward connectivity, coordinated itineraries and potential feed through the alliance network. The new service is expected to launch in August, in line with the typical approach of Chinese carriers, which often introduce routes and open ticket sales at relatively short notice. Such launches are usually closely coordinated with tour operators, which assemble travel groups in advance to help secure strong passenger loads from the outset. Based on indirect passenger flow, Shanghai is the busiest unserved route in China from Zagreb. It is followed by Beijing and Guangzhou.
