Air China is set to launch two major connections from Brussels Airport, according to an announcement made by the European hub on 1 December. The Chinese flag carrier will operate direct routes from the Belgian capital to Beijing and Chengdu starting from March 2026.
The new Beijing connection is only Brussels’ second direct flight to the Chinese capital. With five weekly flights for the spring schedule and a daily service commencing in summer 2026. Air China joins Hainan Airlines in flying there. Hainan expanded its service to four weekly frequencies in September 2025, demonstrating the appetite among travellers to discover Beijing’s 3,000-year-old history at sites such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall at Badaling.
Meanwhile, Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, is a brand new passenger connection for Brussels, having previously only been served by cargo operations from the Belgian hub. Marking the fifth mainland Chinese destination served by Brussels Airport (alongside Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and the recent addition of Chongqing), the new Air China passenger route, launching 26 March 2026, will be the first time tourists will have been able to fly direct to Tianfu Airport. Tianfu, the gateway to the “cuisine, scenic landscapes, and its giant panda research centre” that lie beyond in Sichuan, is intended to become one of China’s biggest hubs.
Brussels Airport is framing the development as a show of force, now boasting another member of the Star Alliance network, and, it says, boosting the “dynamism of its intercontinental network.”
Whether it’s onwards from Brussels to the “heart of Europe,” and further international institutions or connections across the continent, or onwards from Beijing or Chengdu, taking advantage of “Air China’s convenient onward connections to numerous destinations across China and Asia,” the arrival of the new carrier promises to enrich the offer for passengers and businesses flying between Belgium and China, the airport said in a press release.
Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport, said in a statement: “We are delighted to welcome Air China to Brussels Airport with the launch of these direct flights to Beijing and Chengdu. These new routes enhance our Asian and intercontinental network and strengthen our ties with China. They will improve connectivity for passengers and businesses while fostering closer cultural and economic relations between our countries. We look forward to a fruitful and lasting partnership.”
Amid a buoyant post-COVID-19 international travel market, Chinese carriers have been eyeing various international destinations, and the play for Brussels, now served by Cathay Pacific, Hainan, Juneyao Airlines, and soon, Air China, reflects that expansion.
