Spain, US and India to Receive New Direct Flights as Sichuan, Starlux and Royal Jordanian Expand Intercontinental Networks in 2025

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Three major carriers—Sichuan Airlines, Starlux Airlines, and Royal Jordanian—are boosting intercontinental air connectivity in 2025 by launching new nonstop routes linking key cities across Asia, Europe, North America, and India.

Chengdu to Madrid: Sichuan Airlines Targets Spain with First-Ever Direct Route

Sichuan Airlines is set to enhance its European presence with the introduction of a nonstop route between Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Madrid Adolfo Suárez-Barajas Airport, scheduled to commence on April 27, 2025. Operating four times weekly with the Airbus A350-900, this new link will be the first direct service between Chengdu and Madrid, offering a crucial new bridge between southwestern China and southern Europe.

This expansion builds on Sichuan Airlines’ current European destinations from Chengdu, which include Istanbul, Rome, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. With the addition of Madrid, Chengdu will now have nine nonstop long-haul routes, alongside services operated by Air China and Hainan Airlines to cities like Frankfurt, London, Milan, and Vienna.

Madrid is fast becoming a major European hub for Chinese air connectivity, now linked nonstop to seven Chinese cities. Passenger demand for the Chengdu-Madrid route surged in 2024, registering 5,300 two-way passengers, a 139% increase over 2023.

This route reflects a broader trend: Chinese airlines are aggressively expanding their European footprint, taking advantage of reduced competition from European carriers affected by airspace restrictions over Russia. The Madrid-Chengdu service is strategically timed to capitalize on this opportunity.

Taipei to Ontario: Starlux Airlines Strengthens Southern California Links

Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines will launch a new nonstop service between Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and Ontario International Airport (ONT) starting June 2, 2025. This marks Starlux’s fourth U.S. destination and its second in the Los Angeles region, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The new four-times-weekly route will be operated using a 306-seat Airbus A350-900 in a premium four-class configuration. Starlux’s U.S. network will grow to 28 roundtrip flights weekly by July 2025, serving Los Angeles (10X weekly), San Francisco (daily), Seattle (daily), and now Ontario.

Starlux joins China Airlines on the TPE-ONT route, which has been operating since 2018 (with a pandemic-related suspension). The decision to add Ontario reflects growing demand from Southern California’s Taiwanese American population, which includes 263,000 residents, of which 167,000 live in the Greater Los Angeles area.

In 2024, the Taipei-Los Angeles route was Taiwan’s busiest to the U.S., with 345,000 two-way passengers. Taipei-San Francisco and Taipei-New York also saw strong demand, making Southern California an increasingly vital gateway for Taiwanese travelers.

Amman to Mumbai: Royal Jordanian Re-Enters Indian Market

After more than a decade, Royal Jordanian is re-establishing its presence in India with the launch of nonstop flights between Amman and Mumbai, beginning April 17, 2025. The service will operate four times weekly using Airbus A320neo aircraft in a dual-class layout.

This marks Royal Jordanian’s first scheduled route to India since it exited the market in 2014. The airline will also launch a second route to New Delhi on September 17.

The move comes as demand for travel between India and the Middle East continues to grow, supported by expanding trade ties, tourism, and a large Indian expatriate population in the region. While the India-Jordan market lacked direct flights in 2024, there were still 57,000 two-way passengers, despite a 28% year-over-year decline attributed to regional instability due to the Israel-Hamas war.

By re-entering the Indian market, Royal Jordanian aims to capture indirect traffic and stimulate new demand, leveraging Amman’s position as a key Middle Eastern hub and strengthening economic links with South Asia.

Route Overview Table

These new routes from Sichuan Airlines, Starlux Airlines, and Royal Jordanian represent a bold expansion of global aviation ties across Europe, North America, and South Asia. With rising passenger demand and strategic geographic positioning, each carrier is aiming to secure a stronger foothold in long-haul markets, while meeting the evolving travel needs of global passengers in 2025.