Macau, China, June 23, 2026 (Lusa) - The Chinese airline Beijing Capital Airlines launched a new direct route between Beijing Daxing International Airport and the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, on Monday, which will operate for around three months.
According to a statement sent by the airline to Lusa, the inaugural flight, JD627, departed at 10.55 (Beijing time) and landed at 17.15 (local time) at Lisbon Airport, marking the first direct connection between Daxing and the Portuguese capital.
The route, which takes approximately 13 hours, will be operated weekly on Mondays using wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft.
Portugal already has a regular flight to China operated by the same airline twice a week, between Lisbon and Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province.
This service operates twice a week and has been running regularly since air links between the two countries resumed following the end of China’s ‘zero-Covid’ policy.
Currently, there are no regular direct flights between Lisbon and Beijing, with connections usually involving stopovers at European or Middle Eastern hubs.
The airline’s announcement comes against the backdrop of the US and Israeli conflict with Iran, which has led to the cancellation of several flights with stopovers in the region.
At the welcome ceremony, organised jointly with ANA Aeroportos de Portugal (Portuguese Airports Authority) and the Chinese Embassy in Lisbon, Ambassador Yang Yirui stated that “this route marks an important milestone in aviation cooperation between China and Portugal, helping to deepen bilateral collaboration in the areas of trade, investment, tourism, education and cultural exchange”.
ANA’s commercial director, Karen Strougo, emphasised in the press release that “Lisbon is strengthening its position as a European hub and transatlantic platform, enabling passengers from China to reach destinations in Europe, the Americas and Africa via the TAP Air Portugal network”.
Meanwhile, Capital Airlines representative Coral Chen highlighted that “the successful launch of the Beijing Daxing–Lisbon route was only possible thanks to the support of the Chinese and Portuguese government authorities, civil aviation regulatory bodies, partner airports and all sectors of society”.
Since the start of the year, Daxing Airport has launched several international routes, including direct flights to Helsinki, Frankfurt and Milan, further expanding its European network, the airport told the official Chinese newspaper Global Times on Monday.
The expansion of direct air links between Portugal and China is also taking place against a backdrop of operational disparities in the aviation sector.
Chinese airlines continue to benefit from access to Russian airspace, unlike European carriers, which are barred from using it following the sanctions imposed on Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine.
This difference translates into shorter routes and lower operating costs for Chinese airlines on flights between Asia and Europe, giving them a significant competitive advantage over their European counterparts, who are forced to bypass Russian airspace, thereby increasing flight times and fuel consumption.
Capital Airlines was jointly funded and established by the Beijing Municipal Government and the HNA Aviation Group in 2010.
The airline launched the first direct flight between China and Portugal in 2017. In its first year of operating flights to Portugal, the airline carried more than 80,000 passengers, according to company figures.
The average flight load factor stood at 80% during the quieter months, whilst in the peak season it exceeded 95%.
NCM/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
