Air Europa to Launch New Nonstop Flights to China

Spanish airline company Air Europa announced it will launch direct passenger flights from Madrid to China´s Beijing and Shanghai beginning on July 4. The flights will leave Madrid for Beijing on Monday and return to Madrid on Wednesday. On the other route, the jetliner will leave Madrid on Friday, heading for Shanghai via Barcelona, Spain´s second-largest city.

Last week, Spain´s Air Europa launched its nonstop flights between Madrid and Beijing and Shanghai, which are the first direct flights between the two countries after China´s Eastern Airlines suspended its China-Spain flight.

Spanish Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Jose Montilla said the new routes will promote Spain-China exchanges in tourism, economy and trade.

About 36,000 Spanish tourists visited China and about 20,000 Chinese tourists came to Spain last year. China´s Eastern Airlines launched its direct Shanghai-Madrid flight on June 1992, but canceled it in November 2003 after years of losses.