Chinese airlines reduce flight capacity from Budapest

Several Chinese airlines are implementing flight cancellations and temporary suspensions for routes connecting Budapest to various Chinese cities, raising questions regarding the profitability of these long-haul connections.

Shanghai Airlines, a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines, is reportedly reducing services to Ningbo. Scheduled flights for November 5, 9, 12, and 16, as well as December 3 and 14 in 2026, are facing changes. Additionally, the weekly direct service between Budapest and Xi’an is expected to be suspended from November 7, 2026, until February 26, 2027.

These reductions follow previous capacity adjustments by Hainan Airlines regarding its Shenzhen service. The suspensions on the Xi’an route, a major cultural and economic hub, are expected to impact business travelers, tourists, and passengers visiting relatives.