Barcelona airport inaugurates new direct flight to Chinese city of Shenzhen

The first direct flight between Barcelona and the Chinese city of Shenzhen, operated by Shenzhen Airlines of the Air China group, took off from the Catalan capital on Monday morning. 

With the new route, which will have two weekly frequencies, on Mondays and Fridays, Barcelona now has two direct flights to Chinese cities after an air connection with Beijing returned last June.

Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni said the direct connection between the cities, twinned since 2021, will promote exchanges and cooperation in all areas.

Additionally, the Socialist mayor says the new route shows the need to expand the airport, always a hot topic in Catalan politics. "If we want a 21st-century city, we need a 21st-century airport", he said.