Direct Flights Resumed: China Eastern Reintroduces Routes to Sweden
China Eastern Airlines has restarted direct flights connecting Shanghai to Stockholm, significantly reducing travel times for passengers.
China Eastern Airlines is set to resume its direct flights between Shanghai Pudong and Stockholm starting June 22, offering three round trips weekly. This service returns after being suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic.
This crucial route was established in June 2018 as the first direct air link between Shanghai and Sweden. With its revitalization, the travel duration between the two cities will decrease to approximately 12 hours. Previously, most passengers had to connect through other European cities like Paris, with total travel times that sometimes reached up to 20 hours, and in certain instances, even 30 hours.
The Shanghai-Stockholm route not only marks China Eastern’s inaugural service to Northern Europe but also is the only direct flight linking Shanghai to Sweden. Historically, direct flights between these two countries have been rare.
In the first half of 2025, Air China operated the singular direct route between China and Sweden via the Beijing-Stockholm line, transporting around 74,400 passengers, which reflected a 16.9% increase from the previous year and maintained a load factor of 76.6%.
Passenger demographics show that the Beijing route primarily accommodates business and government travel, while the Shanghai route caters more to tourists and international travelers. The availability of direct flights from both hub cities can attract a diverse range of passengers and enhance route stability.
Demand recovery has favored the reopening of Northern European routes. Data from the Swedish National Tourist Board highlights that from January to August 2025, overnight stays by Chinese tourists in Sweden rose by over 51% compared to the previous year. Li Chunmei, the Chief Representative of the Swedish National Tourist Board in China, remarked that there has been a notable shift from group tours to independent travel among Chinese tourists visiting Northern Europe, particularly favoring deeper explorations in countries like Sweden and Finland. This evolution in travel preferences has contributed to a growing demand for direct flight options.
