New Sichuan Airlines Madrid-Chengdu direct flights bring China and Spain closer

On April 27, Sichuan Airlines inaugurated direct flights connecting the Spanish capital Madrid with Chengdu, a Chinese megacity in the Sichuan province.

It's another sign of growing ties between the two countries.

Flights depart four times a week between Chengdu Tianfu airport and Madrid's Barajas.

"The new route is like a golden bridge for both sides," Gao Pengsong, the airline's Deputy General Manager of International Routes, tells CGTN in Madrid. "We think our connection between the two countries, two cities, can grow trade, travel, and tourism, it should be great for everybody."

Chengdu, city of pandas

Chengdu is a megacity with a population of over 20 million people and has two airports, Tianfu and Shuangliu.

Tianfu is the newer of the two, its doors sliding open in June 2021. It's already China's fifth-largest airport in terms of passengers, with 60 million people flying each year.

The new route opens southwestern China further to southern Europe, and Sichuan province has a lot to offer.

Chengdu is known as 'panda city' and has a huge base of giant panda breeding. It also has some famous culinary dishes like pao cai (known as China's kimchi), and malahouguo spicy hot pot, along with a mix of ancient culture with a vibrant modern city.

Direct flights from Madrid to Chengdu are now available four times a week, bringing China and Spain closer together.

Spain-China ties grow closer

A total of 94 million people visited Spain last year, a new record, making it the second-most visited country after France, which hosted the 2024 Olympics. In 2023, about 19.8 million Spaniards traveled outside of the country.

"The Spanish people are ready to travel to China to see how it's changed, how beautiful China is," continues Gao Pengsong. "And the Chinese travellers are willing to travel through Spain, to enjoy the weather, the sightseeing, and also the delicious food. It's amazing."

Early on Sunday morning the queue was already forming at the Sichuan Airlines check-in desk at Madrid's Barajas Airport.

Alex is a business owner using the new route. "I'm going to a pet product trade fair in Guangzhou and so flying to Chengdu first," he says, "it's definitely more convenient."

Mei comes from Chengdu and the route takes her straight home.

"I was here travelling in Spain, I love it here now and this direct flight is perfect for me, I'm very happy," she tells CGTN.

Direct flights to Madrid are a further sign of a growing trade and diplomatic relationship between the two nations, following Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez' third visit to Beijing in three years on April 11, and his insistence that Spain and the EU should pursue closer ties with China, despite warnings from Washington.