Passenger traffic between Barcelona and China increases by 60%.

The Prat de LlobregatBarcelona is gaining greater air connectivity with China. This was one of the main objectives of El Prat Airport following the shock of the pandemic and one of the reasons defended by Aena, the airport operator, for expanding its facilities. With the resumption of routes in recent years, more and more passengers are flying from Barcelona to the Asian giant, and so far this year the numbers recorded before the pandemic have almost doubled. Traffic to China has grown 64% between January and August compared to the same period last year. In just eight months, Barcelona Airport has seen 210,600 travelers coming from or going to China. During all of 2024, the number of passengers reached nearly 221,000. "It's a priority market," emphasizes Eva Valenzuela, director of El Prat Airport.

Passengers are increasing, as are the airlines operating direct flights to the airport. Since Thursday, the Catalan capital and Shanghai have been connected by China Eastern Airlines, with a journey time of approximately 13 hours. The first flight landed at El Prat Airport this Thursday at around 7 a.m., on an Airbus A350 decorated with Gaudí drawings, carrying more than 280 passengers, with a 95% occupancy rate. On this new route, the airline offers four weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays).

"We hope to carry many passengers," remarked Guowei Cheng, Executive Vice President of China Eastern, who wanted to emphasize that Chinese people are fans of football, and especially of the game played in Barcelona. "It will be a success," assured the company spokesperson, who also noted an increase in passengers between Spain and China. The airline first landed in Madrid in 2016, where it flies daily to Shanghai.

China Eastern becomes the second airline to operate a direct flight between the two cities, after Air China resumed offering it last year, ending the four-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. It now operates three flights per week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays). And, in addition to flights to Shanghai, El Prat also offers flights to Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific), Beijing (Air China), and Shenzhen (Shenzhen Airlines).

The airport is seeking these connections with China, but the government also wants them, following President Salvador Illa's trip to the Asian giant to attract new business investment. This desire was evident at Friday's inauguration of the China Eastern route, where there was more talk of politics than tourism. In an uncertain geopolitical context, both Chinese and Catalan leaders have reiterated events such as the various visits by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to China, as well as the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between that country and the European Union. "It's an important step toward strengthening collaboration between China and Spain," said Chinese Consul General Meng Yuhong. "At a time when some choose to withdraw, Barcelona and Shanghai are a little closer today. The 10,000 kilometers are now a little less noticeable," emphasized the Spanish government delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto.

Nearly 60 intercontinental destinations

Currently, flights from Barcelona to 59 intercontinental destinations, most of them in the Americas. The United States clearly dominates the region, with 24 direct connections to Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. Travel to Latin America is also possible from Barcelona, to destinations such as Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Cancún, Comayagua, Mexico City, Punta Cana, Santiago de Chile, and São Paulo, but there are fewer direct connections compared to those from Madrid airport.

The second best-connected region from the Catalan capital is Africa, especially Morocco: direct flights are available to Casablanca, Essaouira, Fez, Marrakech, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat, Tangier, and Tetouan. This is followed by the Middle East and Asia, with nine and seven direct flights, respectively. In Asia, China is the main destination, with flights to Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen. Baku (Azerbaijan), Seoul (South Korea), and Singapore complete the list.