Air China landed in Zagreb for the first time today, 4 September 2026, officially launching the Chinese flag carrier’s operations to Croatia. The inaugural CA913 service on the Beijing – Bucharest – Zagreb route landed at Franjo Tuđman International Airport at 09:47.

According to information available to AvioRadar, the inaugural flight from Beijing to Bucharest carried 161 passengers whose journey ended in the Romanian capital – 3 in Business Class and 158 in Economy Class. An additional 8 Business Class and 69 Economy Class passengers on the same flight were travelling onwards to the final destination, Zagreb.

Following passenger disembarkation and boarding during the stop in Bucharest, the aircraft continued to Zagreb with a total of 133 passengers – 9 in Business Class and 124 in Economy Class.

According to reservation system data available to AvioRadar, a total of 68 passengers are booked on the return flight from Zagreb, including 4 in Business Class and 64 in Economy Class. Of these, 1 Business Class and 17 Economy Class passengers are travelling from Zagreb to Bucharest, while 2 Business Class and 46 Economy Class passengers are travelling from Zagreb to Beijing. For the remaining 2 passengers – one in Business Class and one in Economy Class – the final destination is not specified in the data available to AvioRadar.

Air China’s first arrival in Zagreb was operated by Airbus A330-200 registered B-5932, manufacturer serial number MSN 1459. The aircraft is an Airbus A330-243 that made its first flight on 27 September 2013 and had just under 13 years of service history at the time of its inaugural arrival in Zagreb.

B-5932 is configured for a total of 265 passengers, with 18 seats in Business Class and 247 in Economy Class.

The new route connects Beijing and Zagreb via Bucharest and is scheduled to operate three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. After arriving from Beijing, the aircraft makes a stop in the Romanian capital before continuing to Zagreb. The return service from Zagreb also operates via Bucharest before continuing to the Chinese capital.

Air China is deploying widebody Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the route, providing Zagreb with a new year-round intercontinental connection and significantly improving access to the Chinese market. Of particular importance is the connectivity available through Air China’s major Beijing hub, from where the carrier offers an extensive network of domestic and international destinations across China and the rest of Asia.

Air China’s arrival also represents an important step in strengthening Croatia’s air connectivity with Asian markets. Before the pandemic, China was one of Croatia’s faster-growing long-haul inbound tourism markets, and the new scheduled service is expected to further facilitate both leisure and business travel between the two countries.

The Beijing – Bucharest – Zagreb service is also notable for the possibility of travelling between Zagreb and Bucharest, as Air China sells tickets separately on the European sector of the route.

Air China’s first arrival therefore brings another major global carrier to Zagreb and further expands the range of scheduled widebody services from the Croatian capital. Following years of announcements and interest in establishing a link with the Chinese market, Zagreb is now part of Air China’s scheduled European network.

Article update, 14/09/2026 at 14:13

The launch of the new route was officially marked by a ceremony at Franjo Tuđman Airport, attended by representatives of state institutions, the tourism sector, the business community and the aviation industry. Zagreb International Airport highlighted that the new connection opens additional opportunities for both leisure and business travel and is expected to contribute to stronger tourism flows, economic ties and investment cooperation between Croatia and China.

Among those addressing the guests was Qi Qianjin, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Croatia, who described the new route as a connection whose significance goes beyond transport alone.

“This air route between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Croatia goes beyond its transport function and represents a bridge of friendship connecting our peoples. The establishment of this direct connection will further enhance opportunities for bilateral cooperation and provide strong momentum for exchange, mutual learning and closer ties in the fields of economy, tourism, culture, sport, education and other areas of mutual interest.”

The importance of the new connection for Croatian tourism was also highlighted by Monika Udovičić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Croatia.

“The establishment of this route is an important step forward for Croatian tourism, as it strengthens our connection with one of the world’s most important outbound travel markets. Chinese visitors are extremely important for Croatian tourism, and I am particularly pleased that this route opens up even more opportunities for easier and more accessible travel to Croatia. Presence in long-haul markets is built continuously through better transport connectivity, promotion and long-term partnerships, and this route represents an important step in that direction. Better connectivity also creates more room for economic, investment and sports cooperation, while further strengthening relations between Croatia and China. I believe this route will contribute to an even stronger positioning of Croatia in the Chinese market.”

Franjo Tuđman Airport also sees the new route as an additional contribution to strengthening Zagreb’s position as Croatia’s main international aviation hub. The Beijing – Bucharest – Zagreb connection is expected to create further opportunities not only for tourism, but also for business travel, investment and broader cultural and economic exchange between Croatia and China.

The scheduled Beijing – Bucharest – Zagreb service, operated three times a week with Airbus A330-200 aircraft, therefore carries a broader significance than the introduction of another intercontinental route alone. For Zagreb, it provides more direct access to the large Chinese market, while Air China further expands its network in this part of Europe.