Air China is connecting Beijing and Zagreb from September
Air China is launching the Beijing – Bucharest – Zagreb route three times a week, opening up for Croatia a more direct access to one of the world's largest outbound travel markets. For the tourism sector, the new connection is particularly important due to the significance of the Chinese outbound market for Croatia and the entire region. It will be first regular air service between Croatia and China.
Three times a week with a wide-body Airbus A330
Flights CA913 and CA914 will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays using an Airbus A330-200. Flights from Beijing will operate via Bucharest to Zagreb, while the return journey is organised via the same route. Air China anticipates a stopover of approximately three hours in the Romanian capital, where the necessary entry and exit formalities for the EU are carried out.
Capacity itself is also important for the Croatian market. Wide-body aircraft and long-haul routes are still relatively rare in Zagreb, so the entry of a major Asian carrier changes the structure of the capital's international connectivity.
Demand potential exists. Almost half a million Chinese visitors visited Croatia in 2019, while more than 330,000 were recorded during 2025. The new route therefore arrives at a time when Chinese outbound traffic is gradually approaching pre-pandemic levels.
New opportunity for agencies and regional programmes
For Croatian travel agencies and DMCs, the greatest opportunity is not just in Chinese guests staying in Zagreb. Croatia can become the starting point for regional itineraries towards Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and other destinations that Chinese travellers often combine into a single European trip.
The real test of the route will therefore not be the first weeks of operations, but the market's ability to generate sufficient tourist, business and group demand outside the peak season. If that happens, Beijing could become the foundation for a much more serious development of Croatia's connectivity with China and the rest of Asia.
