China Eastern Airlines has launched a new direct route between Xi’an and Vienna, marking the first-ever nonstop connection between the two cities and adding fresh cargo capacity into Central and Eastern Europe.
The service operates three times per week using an Airbus A330-200, strengthening Vienna International Airport’s links with Asia while also creating additional capacity for both passenger and freight flows.
Austrian State Secretary for Energy, Startups and Tourism Elisabeth Zehetner described direct air links as the lifeblood of international tourism. She said the new Vienna–Xi’an route sends a clear signal that Austria is open to growth, international exchange and the economic opportunities offered by the Chinese market. For her, every new direct service is an investment in the future of tourism and trade, and the Xi’an connection opens a market that was not previously accessible directly.
Beyond its tourism value, the new route also delivers meaningful bellyhold capacity for cargo, particularly for e-commerce, pharmaceuticals and high-value industrial goods moving between Europe and China.
Vienna Airport said the service strengthens its position as a major logistics hub for Central and Eastern Europe and further reinforces trade connectivity on one of the world’s most important air cargo corridors.
The inaugural flight alone carried around 12 tonnes of cargo, underlining immediate market demand for the service.
