SHANGHAI, Aug. 26, 2025 — China Eastern Airlines (CEA) is set to officially launch its new “Shanghai-Barcelona” international route on September 26, 2025. This service will operate with flights MU249 and MU250, offering four weekly round trips on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The route is designed not only to connect two prominent global cities but also to provide passengers with a smooth and convenient travel experience.
To generate excitement for the launch, CEA recently introduced the “Spanish Art Season Cloud Journey” themed flight. Operated by an Airbus A350 long-haul wide-body aircraft, its cabin interiors beautifully merge the distinctive artistic elements of Antoni Gaudí’s architecture in Barcelona with the timeless architectural charm of Shanghai’s Bund. Iconic features, including the columns of Sagrada Família, the undulating facade of Casa Milà, and the fantastical, bone-like columns of Casa Batlló, have been integrated into the wall panel decorations and overhead bin stickers, allowing passengers to immerse themselves in Barcelona’s architectural wonders while in flight.
This themed flight will debut on the “Shanghai-Barcelona” route on September 26, establishing a cultural link from a “cloud experience” to “on-site explorations.” It will subsequently be featured on additional domestic and international routes, extending its unique in-flight experience to a wider range of travelers.
In addition to these themed flights, CEA has also rolled out themed buses across downtown Shanghai, covering key areas of the main urban district. These buses integrate artistic expression with urban mobility throughout passengers’ journeys. Travelers who capture and share photos of these themed flights or buses can participate in an official online check-in campaign for an opportunity to win surprise gifts, such as exhibition tickets and cultural creative products.
This route launch is particularly significant as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, and the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain. Tickets for the “Shanghai-Barcelona” route are currently available across all distribution channels. Earlier this year, CEA expanded its European network by introducing several new routes to meet the demand of peak summer travel. These included the “Shanghai-Copenhagen” route, launched on July 17, the “Shanghai-Milan” route on June 20, and the “Shanghai-Geneva” route on June 16. Presently, CEA operates flights to 15 European cities, including prominent destinations like Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, London, and Rome.
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Source: China Eastern Airlines
CONTACT: Contact person: Fang Ying TEL: 00862122331470 Email: fangying@ceair.com Contact person: Ms. Wang, Tel: 86-10-63074558
