Air Changan launches four new international routes in Yichang
By Chen Si.
China’s 2026 summer-autumn aviation season began on March 29. On the opening day, Air Changan launched a stationed operation at Yichang Sanxia International Airport, introducing four new international routes.
Air Changan launches four new international routes at Sanxia International Airport.
Air Changan has also added new domestic routes linking Yichang with Xining, Shenyang, Hohhot and Maotai. For the first time this season, the airline has stationed an overnight aircraft in Yichang, operating four international routes in addition to the domestic Yichang-Dalian route: Yichang-Kuching (Malaysia), Yichang-Vientiane (Laos), Yichang-Bangkok (Thailand) and Yichang-Hanoi (Vietnam).
The addition of resident capacity and regular overnight aircraft deployment will boost the stability and connectivity of the airport's route network, while increasing early-morning outbound flight capacity.
The Yichang-Hanoi route debuted on March 29 and operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
The inaugural Air Changan flight 9H8475 carried the first batch of passengers to Hanoi, Vietnam on March 29.
It operates on an alternating weekly schedule with the Yichang-Vientiane route, switching service days between Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday and Monday/Wednesday/Saturday.
With flight numbers 9H8475/9H8476, the outbound flight departs Yichang at 2:55 pm and arrives in Hanoi at 5:30 pm. The return flight leaves Hanoi at 6:30 pm and lands in Yichang at 9 pm. (All times refer to Beijing Time except for South Korean flights.)
The inaugural Air Changan flight 9H8475 carried the first batch of passengers to Hanoi, Vietnam on March 29.
The Yichang-Vientiane route opens on March 31 under flight numbers 9H8473/9H8474. The outbound flight departs at 2:55 pm and arrives at 6:05 pm, with the return flight taking off at 7:05 pm and reaching Yichang at 10:10 pm.
The Yichang-Bangkok route starts on March 30 every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday (Flight 9H8385/9H8386). On Mondays, the flight departs Yichang at 4:50 pm and arrives in Bangkok at 8:35 pm, returning at 9:35 pm and landing at 1:30 am next day. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, it departs at 2:55 pm, arrives at 6:40 pm, and returns at 7:40 pm to land at 11:35 pm.
The Yichang-Kuching route will launch on April 10 with one weekly Friday flight (9H8477/9H8478). It departs at 4:50 pm, arrives at 10 pm, and returns at 11 pm, landing in Yichang at 4:05 am the next day.
This season also sees Yichang Sanxia Airport add routes to Seoul and Cheongju in South Korea, while maintaining regular flights to Singapore, Vladivostok and Hong Kong China. The airport will operate a total of nine international and regional routes.
The Yichang-Seoul route begins on April 4, operating every Tuesday and Saturday (7C8487/7C8488). Tuesday flights depart at 4:30 pm and arrive at Seoul Incheon at 8:25 pm, with return flights leaving at 1:10 pm and arriving at 3:30 pm. Saturday flights depart at 2:20 pm, arrive at 6:25 pm, and return at 11:15 am, landing at 1:20 pm.
The Yichang-Cheongju route will launch on April 27, operating every Monday and Friday (RF8950/RF8960). Flights depart Yichang at 5 pm and arrive at 9:05 pm, with return flights leaving at 2 pm and landing at 4 pm. All schedules for South Korea routes follow local time.
Zhang Na, Zhang Yong also contributed to this story
