China Eastern has inaugurated its first flight between Xi’an in China and Milan Malpensa in northern Italy. The route marks a milestone as Milan is the only city in Italy and the third in Europe to serve the Shaanxi province’s capital.
China is Malpensa’s second-largest long-haul market by traffic volume with a daily average of over 1,000 Chinese passengers departing. The route is the sixth from Malpensa to China that has been launched in the last 12 months.
The flight also marks an important year for Sino-Italian relations. Italy is one of 11 European countries that have been granted visa-free entry (for a 15-day stay). The move is a powerful stimulus for outbound tourism from Italy, particularly to destinations such as Xi’an, rich in history and culture and home to the renowned Terracotta Army, one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world.
