China Eastern Resumes Shanghai-Stockholm Route After 6-Year Hiatus

Shanghai, China — China Eastern Airlines will resume nonstop flights between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Stockholm Arlanda Airport on June 22, 2026, marking the relaunch of a route suspended since early 2020 due to the pandemic. The service represents the only nonstop link between Sweden and Shanghai currently available, according to AeroRoutes.

The carrier will operate flights three times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays using Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The 10- to 11-hour flights will depart Shanghai in the afternoon and arrive in Stockholm in the evening. The move aligns with China Eastern's comprehensive upgrade to its international route network planned for 2026, according to Swedavia and The Traveler.

Industry analysts view the relaunch as a symbolic milestone in the normalization of post-pandemic air links between China and northern Europe. Stockholm Arlanda operator Swedavia welcomed the connection, noting it will facilitate easier onward travel within China and across Asia-Pacific regions for trade and tourism, according to Aerospace Global News.