China’s airlines are wasting no time restoring global connectivity in 2026. Hainan Airlines will launch a daily Chongqing–Bangkok service on 12 January, while Chongqing Airlines follows with four weekly frequencies from 1 February. Chengdu Tianfu airport is also eyeing a nonstop link to Brussels in March, complementing new flights to Kuala Lumpur and Sihanoukville announced earlier this week.
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) data show international passenger traffic climbed 21.6 % last year, reaching more than 90 % of pre-Covid levels. Southeast Asia now accounts for nearly three-quarters of China’s outbound seat capacity, reflecting both pent-up leisure demand and the supply-chain pull of ASEAN manufacturing hubs.
![New Chongqing–Bangkok and Chengdu–Brussels Flights Mark China’s Rapid International Capacity Rebuild]()
The new routes carry practical benefits for corporate travellers. Electronics firms in Chongqing will save up to six hours door-to-door when shuttling technicians to Thai component plants, while Chengdu’s pharmaceutical exporters gain direct belly-hold capacity to Belgium’s Brussels Airport, a major European pharma hub. Airports are sweetening the deal with slot-incentive rebates, cargo-fee discounts and dedicated “Fast-Track Immigration Counters” for eligible business passengers.
Travel-management companies urge corporates to update policy documents to reflect the new options and to remind staff that Thailand still requires proof of onward travel and health-insurance coverage, while Belgium mandates Schengen biometrics for first-time applicants. Failure to align internal compliance procedures with the evolving flight map could erode the efficiency gains.
With China’s international seat capacity expected to surpass 2019 levels by mid-year, mobility managers should regularly audit preferred-carrier agreements and immigration-advisory content to capture savings and keep employees moving smoothly.
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) data show international passenger traffic climbed 21.6 % last year, reaching more than 90 % of pre-Covid levels. Southeast Asia now accounts for nearly three-quarters of China’s outbound seat capacity, reflecting both pent-up leisure demand and the supply-chain pull of ASEAN manufacturing hubs.
The new routes carry practical benefits for corporate travellers. Electronics firms in Chongqing will save up to six hours door-to-door when shuttling technicians to Thai component plants, while Chengdu’s pharmaceutical exporters gain direct belly-hold capacity to Belgium’s Brussels Airport, a major European pharma hub. Airports are sweetening the deal with slot-incentive rebates, cargo-fee discounts and dedicated “Fast-Track Immigration Counters” for eligible business passengers.
Travel-management companies urge corporates to update policy documents to reflect the new options and to remind staff that Thailand still requires proof of onward travel and health-insurance coverage, while Belgium mandates Schengen biometrics for first-time applicants. Failure to align internal compliance procedures with the evolving flight map could erode the efficiency gains.
With China’s international seat capacity expected to surpass 2019 levels by mid-year, mobility managers should regularly audit preferred-carrier agreements and immigration-advisory content to capture savings and keep employees moving smoothly.
Source: VisaHQ Global Mobility News
