Ningbo-Budapest route boosts China-Europe exchange

A customs officer at Ningbo airport explains customs clearance regulations to an international traveler. [Photo by Hu Bobo/Yongpai App]

The direct flight connecting Ningbo and Budapest has become an increasingly important bridge for trade, business, and cultural exchange between China and Central and Eastern Europe.

Since its launch in May 2023, the route has transported more than 160,000 inbound and outbound passenger trips, strengthening ties between the two regions.

At Ningbo Lishe International Airport, travelers arriving from Budapest now benefit from faster and smarter customs clearance services. At the same time, aircraft cargo holds are filled with high-value goods such as electronic components and cross-border e-commerce products.

To support growing demand, Ningbo Customs has introduced a range of trade facilitation measures. A digital platform now streamlines customs declaration, inspection, and release procedures for imports from Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), while special fast-track channels have also been established for products such as dairy, wine, and meat imports.

The route has further boosted air cargo efficiency through an innovative "airside direct transfer" model introduced in Zhejiang. The system allows cargo to move seamlessly between domestic and international terminals without repeated unloading or security checks, reducing customs clearance time to around 30 minutes.

Today, the route carries more than 570 metric tons of high-value cargo annually. In the first quarter of this year, trade between Ningbo and CEECs reached 14.5 billion yuan ($2.13 billion), reflecting the growing vitality of cross-border cooperation.