Photo: by Markus Winkler on Pexels
Air China to Expand Schedule: New Flights from Irkutsk and Vladivostok to Beijing
Air China announced adding frequencies from Irkutsk (starting Dec 20) and Vladivostok (starting Jan 1 2027) to Beijing. The rise in flight numbers, visa‑free travel and growing tourist flow make the route especially attractive for Russians.
New Air China frequencies
- Irkutsk → Beijing: extra flights kick off on Dec 20.
- Vladivostok → Beijing: new frequencies start on Jan 1 2027.
Tickets are already on sale, which makes planning a trip easier.
Current flight density
Vladivostok already sees a fairly tight schedule. From January, Air China will operate 16 flights a week to Beijing. Together with other carriers (S7 Airlines, Aurora, China United Airlines, Hainan Airlines) the total number of weekly flights on this route will exceed 30.
Photo: by Anderson Wei on Pexels
In winter, flights from Vladivostok to China are expected to top 60 per week – a clear sign of strong demand.
How the route has developed
- Mar 2025 – Air China launched service to Vladivostok for the first time, with three weekly Boeing 737 flights.
- Spring 2026 – frequency rose to two flights a day.
- Summer 2026 – a record 28 flights a week to Beijing.
Irkutsk is also tightening its ties with China. Winter navigation runs until March 27, and the airport promises up to 21 flights a week to Beijing and three flights to Shanghai. In summer, according to ATOR, Irkutsk offered 11 weekly flights to Beijing (S7 Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Air China). Combined with Vladivostok and Khabarovsk, this added more than ten extra weekly flights on the China corridor.
Visa‑free regime and tourist flow
From May 2026, China extended visa‑free entry for Russians until the end of 2027. With a passport, visitors can stay up to 30 days. In July, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree granting Chinese citizens the same period.
Tourist numbers are climbing: in 2025, Russians visited China 2.47 million times, and in Q1 2026 the Russian tourist count in the PRC rose by 60 %. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko estimates that by the end of 2027 the reciprocal flow could reach around 6 million trips.
What this means for travelers
- More flights – easier to pick a convenient departure, especially in winter when the schedule is dense.
- Visa‑free regime – simpler paperwork, no need to apply for a visa.
- Growing tourist flow – rising interest in China is reflected in better infrastructure and services aimed at Russian visitors.
If you’re planning a trip to Beijing or other Chinese cities, now is the most convenient moment: the new flights are already on the timetable, and the visa‑free rule lets you stay up to a month without extra bureaucracy.
Based on materials from: trn-news.ru.
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