On Monday, September 30, 2024, China Eastern Airlines made history with the launch of a direct flight from Milan Malpensa Airport to Xi’an, the ancient capital of Shaanxi province in China. This new route marks a pivotal moment for Malpensa, solidifying its position as a major hub for long-haul air traffic in Northern Italy.
Milan now boasts the distinction of being the only city in Italy and the third in Europe to offer a direct connection to Xi’an, a city renowned for its rich history and culture, home to the iconic Terracotta Army. This achievement is the result of collaborative efforts between ENAC (the Italian Civil Aviation Authority) and CAAC (the Civil Aviation Administration of China).
The new flight is the sixth new route from Milan Malpensa to China established in the past year, bringing the total number of direct connections to 11 airports with 37 weekly frequencies. This signifies the remarkable growth in air travel between Italy and China.
The launch of this direct flight is particularly significant considering the strong ties between Italy and China, as well as the recent announcement of visa-free entry for citizens from 11 European countries, including Italy, to China for stays up to 15 days. This policy is expected to significantly boost outbound tourism from Italy, especially towards destinations like Xi’an.
Furthermore, the flight symbolically connects Italy to the historic Silk Road, commemorating the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death. This connection underscores the revival of the ancient trade route, now a modern path connecting the historic departure city of Xi’an to Italy.
For Malpensa Airport, China represents the second-largest long-haul market, with an average of over 1,000 Chinese passengers departing daily. This growth aligns perfectly with the positive trends observed at both Malpensa and Linate, the two airports managed by SEA. These airports have witnessed record passenger numbers since the beginning of 2024, with a combined total of 25.8 million passengers in the first eight months of the year, representing a 9% increase compared to 2019 and an 11% increase compared to 2023. This signifies a remarkable recovery and expansion in air travel following the pandemic.
