Air China is resuming service to South America after a more than four-year hiatus. Starting on April 28, 2024, the carrier will add service to Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) from Beijing.
According to Aeroroutes, Air China’s flight to Sao Paulo will stop in Madrid. The route is scheduled to be operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on a twice-weekly frequency.
The resumption of service to Brazil marks Air China’s first foray back into the South American market since the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline previously operated the same routing until March 2020, per Cirium Diio data.
From May 2018 to February 2020, Air China also served Panama City in Central America via Houston (IAH) with a twice-weekly schedule. The carrier began regular service to Sao Paulo in 2006.
Recently, Chinese airlines have been on a quest to add and resume routes lost to the pandemic. Last week, a handful of state-owned airlines filed to bolster service to the U.S. in the coming months.
