People pose for a group photo after the arrival of the first direct Beijing-Bucharest-Zagreb flight at the International Zagreb Airport in Zagreb, Croatia, Sept. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Ma Zhen)
Zagreb: International Zagreb Airport on Friday welcomed the first direct flight from China to Croatia, launching a new route between Beijing and Zagreb via Bucharest, Romania.
The new route, operated by Air China, will run three times a week.
The aircraft received a ceremonial welcome on arrival, including a traditional water salute on the runway. Officials from Croatia's Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, the Chinese ambassador to Croatia, and the Chief Operating Officer at International Zagreb Airport greeted the crew after the plane landed safely.
"Today we celebrate not only a new airline service, but also new opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural exchange between our two countries. We look forward to seeing this partnership grow, and this route thrive in the years ahead," said Nicolas Duthilleul, COO at International Zagreb Airport.
"We are extremely pleased to be establishing a new route to Beijing. China and the entire Asian market are extremely important to us," Monika Udovicic, state secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, told Xinhua.
She noted that Chinese tourists are especially important for Croatia because they often visit outside the peak season. "They do not come to Croatia solely for the sun and sea, but for the natural beauty and culture. Croatia has a great deal to offer there. Our goal is to present better our UNESCO sites, national parks, nature parks and other attractions that Croatia can certainly be proud of in the Chinese market," she said.
Chinese Ambassador to Croatia Qi Qianjin said the direct flight will cut travel time and lower costs for people-to-people exchanges. "This marks not only the first direct flight in the history of China-Croatia relations, but also another historic milestone in our friendly cooperation," he said.
Kristjan Stanicic, director of the Croatian Tourist Board, said that Croatia now expects even more tourists from China, while noting there is also strong interest among Croatians in traveling to China.
"I think this is not only a simple flight, it is much more than that. First of all, it will bring the Chinese and Croatian people closer together, and of course it will open new business opportunities for Croatian people in China and vice versa," he said.
