China Flights Update — 21 April 2026
flights • 21 April 2026
**China Eastern Airlines has launched a new direct route from Xi'an to Vienna, operating three times weekly from 20 April 2026.** This service uses Airbus A330-200 aircraft on flights MU777/778 every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, reducing travel time by at least three hours compared to one-stop options via Beijing or Frankfurt. According to VisaHQ, the route taps into growing leisure and corporate demand between central China and Central Europe, with two-way passenger traffic reaching 243,400 in 2025—a 25% increase year-on-year. The addition supports China Eastern's 2026 network expansion, including higher frequencies from Shanghai Pudong to Frankfurt and Barcelona. For Australian travellers, this enhances Europe-China connectivity, offering smoother layovers in Vienna for trips to historic Xi'an—home to the Terracotta Warriors—and beyond. Booking is available now, making multi-destination itineraries more efficient. Meanwhile, VietJet Air has introduced five new routes linking Vietnam and China, with Hanoi–Enshi and Ho Chi Minh City–Guilin already operating since early April at 1–2 weekly flights. China Travel News reports the upcoming Hanoi–Hangzhou, Hanoi–Huangshan, and Ho Chi Minh City–Huangshan services will soon boost tourism links, ideal for Aussies combining Vietnam stops with China's scenic Huangshan mountains or Hangzhou's West Lake. These developments highlight China's expanding aviation network, promising more flexible options for Down Under explorers.Sources
- https://www.chinatravelnews.com/article/189779/
- https://travelweekly.com.au/vietjet-announces-five-new-routes-between-vietnam-and-china/
- https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-04-20/cn/china-eastern-inaugurates-xian-vienna-route-expanding-europe-china-connectivity/
- https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1359324.shtml
- https://tourisminfonepal.com/etihad-expands-china-network-with-five-routes/