12 Mar 2026
#2 March 2026: China Aviation Industry Newsletter
DHL Group and JD.com Sign MoU to Support German Brand Expansion
China Eastern Airlines announced plans to significantly expand and optimize its international route network in 2026. The strategy focuses on strengthening global connectivity and improving hub transfer capability through new routes, increased frequencies and the resumption of selected international services. The airline intends to launch new routes from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to destinations including Mumbai, Dublin, Cheongju, Manado, Surabaya, Tbilisi and Ulaanbaatar. China Eastern is also evaluating additional long-haul opportunities such as services to Prague, Belgrade, Bucharest, Birmingham, Lyon and Davao as part of its ongoing international growth strategy.
Teesside Airport Secures Air Freight Agreement with European Cargo
Teesside Airport signed a multi-million-pound agreement with European Cargo to establish a new cargo operations base at Teesside Airport Business Park. The deal will see the introduction of five weekly cargo flights using Airbus A340-600 converted freighters. The service will provide up to 375 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity and create a direct logistics link supporting UK exporters and manufacturers. The development is expected to strengthen the airport’s role as a logistics gateway for northern England and increase cargo throughput.
China’s Civil Aviation Sector Records Strong Spring Festival Traffic
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) reported that the country’s aviation sector carried 22.05 million passengers during the nine-day Spring Festival holiday from 15 to 23 February 2026. A total of 171,000 flights were operated during the period, averaging 2.45 million passengers and 18,956 flights per day. Passenger traffic rose 7.7% year-on-year while flight volumes increased 4.4%. On 23 February, the final day of the holiday, daily traffic reached a new record of 2.668 million passengers.
Acumen’s Take
On China Eastern’s Global Expansion
China Eastern’s planned network expansion reflects the continued recovery of international aviation demand in China. Strengthening Shanghai Pudong’s role as a global hub will be central to the airline’s strategy as it reconnects key long-haul and regional markets.
On Growing UK–Asia Cargo Connectivity
The Teesside cargo agreement highlights the growing importance of dedicated freight routes linking Europe with Asian markets. Demand for air cargo capacity remains strong, particularly for high-value manufacturing exports and e-commerce supply chains.
On Spring Festival Travel Demand
The record passenger traffic during the Spring Festival period underscores the resilience of China’s domestic aviation market. Rising leisure travel and improved airline operational performance continue to support sustained passenger growth.
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