Aviation

China Eastern Unveils 15 New International Routes in Celebration of Lunar New Year

A large number of travelers to China for the Spring Festival this year is predicted to take on new shapes and forms. China Eastern is working harder to restart and create new international lines.

The Beijing Daxing – Kuala Lumpur route and the Shanghai Pudong – Cairns, Australia route were recently started and resumed respectively. Additionally, it will expand the number of flights between Pudong and Sydney, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Male in addition to adding 15 new foreign routes, one of which will be Pudong-Perth.

CEA intends to run 2,322 round-trip flights between domestic airports and Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok during the 40 days of the Spring Festival travel boom. There are four round-trip flights per week on the recently launched MU795/796 route between Beijing Daxing and Kuala Lumpur.

presently, the CEA runs four routes to reach Kuala Lumpur: Shanghai Pudong to Sabah, Hangzhou to Kuala Lumpur, Beijing Daxing to Kuala Lumpur, and Shanghai Pudong to Kuala Lumpur. During this year’s Spring Festival travel rush, 340 round-trip flights have been scheduled for these routes. New direct flights to Kuala Lumpur from Kunming, Xi’an, Chengdu, and other locations will also be made available by CEA.

Flying to Shanghai Pudong, Beijing Daxing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Kunming, and other cities, CEA offers eight trips from Singapore. The airline firm operates direct flights from Thailand to Xi’an, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shanghai, among five other destinations. This year, there will be an increase in flights to 66 daily during the Spring Festival travel boom.

Due to its mild climate, Australia has become a popular winter destination in addition to Southeast Asia. The ninth route that CEA operates between China and Australia is the recently restored direct flight route from Shanghai Pudong to Cairns, Australia. Flights on this seasonal route are available every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from February 1 through February 18.

Flights from Australia are operated by CEA to five locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Cairns. CEA’s route extension will improve staff convenience and facilitate trade between China and Australia.

Aviation

Egypt has signed an agreement with China to purchase J-10C fighter jets

Egypt has become the second country, after Pakistan, to order China’s Chengdu J-10C “Vigorous Dragon” fighter jets, marking a significant shift in its military strategy.

The announcement, made during the inaugural Egypt International Air Show from September 3 to 5 at El Alamein International Airport, reveals Egypt’s intent to replace its aging fleet of U.S. F-16s.

The J-10C, a highly capable 4.5-generation multi-role fighter jet, was showcased by China for the first time on African soil during the air show. It features advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry, making it a formidable alternative to Egypt’s current fleet.

Known for its air superiority missions, the J-10C has often been compared to the American F-16, which has been the backbone of the Egyptian Air Force since the 1980s.

However, with Egypt’s F-16s now considered outdated against modern air defense systems, the decision to transition to the Chinese fighters underscores a major upgrade in Egypt’s combat capabilities.

This move not only signals Egypt’s intent to reduce its reliance on U.S. defense systems but also reflects a broader shift in its international alliances.

Despite a long-standing defense relationship with the U.S., evidenced by a recent acquisition of C-130J Hercules transport aircraft through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, Egypt is clearly looking eastward.

The decision comes amid growing concerns over U.S. policies in the Middle East, including its stance on Israeli operations in Gaza, which may have influenced Cairo’s pivot to Chinese military technology.

China’s increasing presence in the Middle East and North Africa is bolstered by such deals, as Beijing continues to expand its influence through military cooperation and economic partnerships, particularly in energy imports.

The Egypt International Air Show provided a platform for showcasing this growing military-industrial relationship.