Globenewswire·2025-10-21 13:45Core Insights - The Fifth "2025 North Bund Forum" focused on innovation and intelligence in the aviation industry, gathering nearly 300 representatives from government, industry, and academia to discuss new trends [1] - China Eastern Airlines (CEA) announced significant developments in its global passenger and cargo network during the forum [1] Group 1: CEA's Initiatives - CEA launched the China Pass Card for inbound travelers, offering various benefits such as flight discounts and transfer services, aimed at enhancing the inbound consumption environment [3] - The airline introduced forum-themed flights, including an immersive cabin experience on the Milan-Shanghai route, showcasing Shanghai's vibrancy [4] Group 2: Expansion of International Routes - Since 2024, CEA has opened 23 new international routes, connecting to 21 Belt and Road Initiative partner countries and 36 destinations [6] - By the end of 2025, CEA will become the first Chinese airline to serve six continents, with the launch of the Shanghai-New Zealand-Argentina route [6] Group 3: Role as an Aviation Hub - CEA has established an integrated air-ground travel network across the Yangtze River Delta, including the Air-Rail Transit Desk and off-site city terminals [6] - In 2024, CEA handled 8.358 million international transfer passengers at Shanghai Pudong Airport, accounting for 80.9% of the airport's total, with a 26.8% year-on-year increase to 4.8 million in the first half of 2025 [6]