The flight, scheduled to depart three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) connects directly the main Italian airport with Chengdu, city known as the “Country of Heaven” and famous for the Giant Pandas. The departure from Rome is at 1:25 p.m. and arrival at Chengdu is scheduled at 5:50 a.m. the following day.
“This is - stated Prof. Michele Geraci, Undersecretary to the Ministry of Economic Development - another result of the signing of the MoU on the Belt and Road that the Italian Government wanted also in terms of the increase of the flow of Chinese tourists to Italy. The start of the flight is in keeping with the signing of the MoU in cooperation with the Province of Sichuan, which I signed in Chengdu last September, precisely to strengthen relations with this important area of South West China".

“Rome is the fourth destination in Europe served by Sichuan Airlines and is one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists” stated Wang Fei, Director of the Commercial Committee of Sichuan Airlines - “We are proud to celebrate the start of this important connection, which is the result of the concentrated efforts of the Company as part of its internationalisation strategy”.
“Today we are inaugurating, with great pleasure, this new connection run by Sichuan Airlines, a new airline operating as of today from Fiumicino” commented Fausto Palombelli, Chief Commercial Officer of ADR.

“Rome and Chengdu are both highly sought-after tourist destinations by both the Chinese and the Italians. The new connection takes the Greater China destinations to 12 that are connected directly with Fiumicino Airport. The Rome airport thus confirms its position as the main gateway to China for Europe”.
With over 150 aircraft in its fleet and orders for an additional 40 planes, Sichuan Airlines, a company founded in 2002, is active on over 160 routes with 130 destinations served in China and the world. The new Rome to Chengdu connection will now offer the Roman clientèle, a large number of connections to the most important Chinese domestic destinations, and the main destinations of South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Passengers continuing on to international destinations will be able to benefit lastly from the 72 Hours Visa Free Transit Policy, which permits entry to China without visa for a maximum of 72 hours between one flight and another. An additional convenient and attractive opportunity to visit the marvels of Sichuan during a “stop-over” towards the final destination of one’s trip.