Storyline: Direct China-Europe flights are expanding to meet surging travel demands from Europe, an effect of China's visa-free entry policies. China's Hainan Airlines just launched a new direct passenger service between Brussels and southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Saturday. The route, operated three times a week as flight HU470 from Brussels, is the carrier's fourth direct connection from Brussels to the Chinese mainland, after services to Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, the airline said. With the addition of the Brussels-Chongqing flights, Hainan Airlines now operates 17 weekly passenger services between Belgium and China. Earlier this month, China announced that it will expand its 240-hour visa-free transit program to more ports, and extend its unilateral visa-exemption arrangements for 45 countries to Dec. 31, 2026, in the country's latest move to further open up to the world. Data from multiple online travel platforms show that after the policy announcement, flight ticket orders to China from European countries including France, Germany, Spain, and Sweden have increased rapidly. "While handling passengers' check-in, we have also noticed a gradual increase in the proportion of foreign passengers traveling to China, from an initial 10 percent to about 50 percent now," said Li Meng, general manager of Hainan Airlines Brussels Office. Industry analysts hold that visa facilitation measures and the expansion of flight routes are creating a virtuous cycle, comprehensively accelerating connectivity between China and Europe. "hat we see as well is that since the moment that the visa for Belgian passenger to China has been lifted, so we don't have that any longer. If you go less than 30 days, this really makes a huge difference. And what we see -- working with Hainan (Airlines), with new destination, with direct flights to China back and forth -- this makes a huge difference both for Chinese passenger that wants to connect to Europe and also for Belgian passengers that (want to visit) China," said Sylvie Van den Eynde, chief passenger aviation officer at Brussels Airport Company. According to European media reports, China's continued efforts to optimize its entry visa policies will bring new opportunities for global tourists traveling to China. The move is seen as a significant step in promoting cultural exchange, enhancing travel experiences, and boosting economic and trade cooperation. Omen, a manager of a travel agency in Belgium, said, "We've the visa free policy that helps a lot. So we are getting more and more customers and other tour operators in Belgium are getting more and more customers. People are getting more and more interested (in) traveling to China and we think that's great. We are trying to promote China as much as possible." "It's really a unique opportunity to get to know China better and to really understand China's innovation, (and) China's culture," said Gwenn Sonck, executive director of Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce. Shotlist: Brussels, Belgium - Nov 22, 2025: 1. Various of plane taxiing, taking off, flying 2. Various of travelers at airport 3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Li Meng, general manager, Hainan Airlines Brussels Office (ending with shot 4): "While handling passengers' check-in, we have also noticed a gradual increase in the proportion of foreign passengers traveling to China, from an initial 10 percent to about 50 percent now." 4. Various of travelers at airport 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sylvie Van den Eynde, chief passenger aviation officer, Brussels Airport Company (ending with shot 6): "What we see as well is that since the moment that the visa for Belgian passenger to China has been lifted, so we don't have that any longer. If you go less than 30 days, this really makes a huge difference. And what we see -- working with Hainan (Airlines), with new destination, with direct flights to China back and forth -- this makes a huge difference both for Chinese passenger that wants to connect to Europe and also for Belgian passengers that (want to visit) China." 6. Various of travelers at airport; staff member 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Omen (full name not given), manager, travel agency, Belgium (ending with shot 8): "We've the visa free policy that helps a lot. So we are getting more and more customers and other tour operators in Belgium are getting more and more customers. People are getting more and more interested (in) traveling to China and we think that's great. We are trying to promote China as much as possible." 8. Various of travelers at airport; staff member working 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Gwenn Sonck, executive director, Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce: "It's really a unique opportunity to get to know China better and to really understand China's innovation, (and) China's culture." 10. Various of travelers at airport [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]