China Eastern eyes direct Shanghai-Baku flights

China Eastern Airlines is evaluating the launch of direct flights connecting Shanghai and Baku, supported by bilateral visa-free travel and expanding passenger demand, the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan said on Friday.

The initiative was discussed in Shanghai during talks between the head of Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency, Fuad Naghiyev, and China Eastern Chairman Wang Zhiqing, alongside executives from Heydar Aliyev International Airport and the Azerbaijan Tourism Board. Azerbaijani officials offered state support mechanisms to facilitate the route, including airport fee discounts, subsidy schemes, and joint marketing campaigns.

Currently, regular direct flights between the two countries are operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), with three weekly flights on the Baku–Beijing route, and China Southern Airlines, which runs five weekly services between Baku and Urumqi.

Chinese tourist arrivals to Azerbaijan rose 7% year-on-year to 61,001 travelers in January–October 2026, building on a 41.7% surge in 2025 that brought 63,500 Chinese visitors to the country.