China Flights Update — 25 July 2026
flights • 25 July 2026
Several **new international routes to China** have been announced or launched, with the most notable developments linking China to Europe, Central Asia and neighbouring markets. According to The Astana Times, China Eastern plans to start direct **Astana–Shanghai** flights in autumn, while FlyArystan will launch **Almaty–Chongqing** on **23 September**, operating **twice weekly**. [1] In Europe, TravelWires reports that China Eastern has already launched **Stockholm–Shanghai** on **22 June**, with **three flights a week** on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The same source says China Eastern also opened **Dublin–Shanghai**, giving Ireland its **first direct air link to China** and adding another long-haul option into Shanghai Pudong. [2][3] For travellers in the region, Hong Kong Business reports HK Express has added a **daily Hong Kong–Wuxi** service, making Wuxi its **sixth mainland China destination**. For Australians planning onward connections, these new routes can improve access to secondary Chinese cities as well as major hubs like Shanghai and Chongqing, which often means more convenient itineraries and broader domestic transfer options. [6]Sources
- https://astanatimes.com/2026/07/china-eastern-plans-direct-astana-shanghai-flights-flyarystan-adds-chongqing-route/
- https://www.travelwires.com/china-eastern-launches-direct-flights-between-stockholm-and-shanghai/
- https://www.travelwires.com/china-eastern-launches-dublin-to-shanghai-non-stop-flights-irelands-first-direct-china-link/
- https://flights.cathaypacific.com/destinations/en_US/
- https://www.flyscoot.com/flights/en/flights-to-china