The FM897 flight completes its 100th takeoff at Ningbo Lishe International Airport. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

The FM897 flight from Ningbo, Zhejiang province to Budapest, Hungary, achieved a significant milestone on June 6 at 12:32 pm by completing its 100th takeoff at Ningbo Lishe International Airport.

The Ningbo-Budapest flight, launched on June 19, 2023, represents the first regular intercontinental passenger route initiated by Ningbo. Operated by Shanghai Airlines under the umbrella of China Eastern Airlines, the route has transported nearly 30,000 passengers between the two cities.

Currently, the route offers two weekly flights using a Boeing 787 wide-body aircraft that can accommodate 265 passengers. The travel time from Ningbo to Budapest has been reduced to just 12 hours.

Industry insiders have noted that the direct flight between Ningbo and Budapest has not only bolstered economic and cultural exchanges between the two cities but has also positioned Ningbo as the preferred departure point for business and leisure travelers from Zhejiang and the broader Yangtze River Delta region traveling to Europe.

A representative from Ningbo Lishe International Airport emphasized that, with peak tourism season on the horizon, traveling from Ningbo to Hungary and other European destinations has become more cost-effective thanks to this new efficient route. For example, in June, an economy class one-way ticket from Ningbo to Budapest is priced as low as 2,219 yuan ($306.39), while a round-trip ticket costs approximately 4,000 yuan.

Economic ties between Ningbo and Hungary have significantly strengthened in recent years. In 2023, the total trade volume between the two regions exceeded $500 million, nearly doubling the figure from five years prior.