Air China to Launch Beijing-Vienna-Barcelona Service

Air China is launching four-times-weekly Beijing-Vienna-Barcelona service on May 5.

Star Alliance member Air China will operate the service, using the flight numbers CA841 outbound and CA842 inbound, from Beijing Capital International Airport (IATA code PEK) on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Air China operates and has on order a total of 23 Airbus A330-300s. It also operates 30 A330-200s. This is a 2011 photograph of Air China A330-300 B-6511 on a pre-delivery flight at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in March 2011

The outbound flight will leave PEK at 2:10 a.m. and arrive at Vienna International Airport (VIE) at 6:10 a.m. the same day, local time; and at Barcelona International Airport (BCN) at 9:25 a.m. local time.

In the other direction, flight CA842 will leave BCN at 11:25 a.m. local time and land at VIE at 1:25 p.m. local time. After taking off again from VIE, it will reach Beijing at 5:55 a.m. the next day, local time.

Air China will operate the service with Airbus A330-300 widebodies.

According to Air China, there have been no non-stop flights between East Asia and Barcelona for many years, and to date very few flights between Beijing and Vienna.

Demand for air travel between China and Europe is growing rapidly, according to Air China, which cites IATA projection that Europe’s international passenger demand is expected to grow by 4.7 per cent in 2014.

Meanwhile, says Air China, a survey has shown that Chinese travelers to Europe have been increasing at a double-digit percentage rate annually over the past 10 years.

As a member of the Star Alliance, Air China has been actively expanding its European schedule. It currently offers more than 100 flights per week between China and Europe, serving major European cities such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, Moscow and Madrid.

Its new Beijing-Vienna-Barcelona service will bring Air China’s European routes up to 23, offering access to 19 European cities.