Hefei Launches Direct Flights to Tokyo and Seoul, Restoring 7 Weekly International Routes After 3-Year Hiatus

Hefei Xinqiao International Airport (合肥新桥国际机场, Héféi Xīnqiáo Guójì Jīchǎng) has launched 2 new direct routes to Tokyo and Seoul, adding 7 weekly flights that restore international connectivity suspended for over 3 years. The routes—operated by China Eastern Airlines to Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Korean Air to Seoul Incheon (ICN)—cut travel time to just 3.5 hours for Seoul and 4 hours for Tokyo, eliminating layovers that previously added 6–8 hours to each trip. These services represent Hefei’s first scheduled international passenger flights since early 2020, signaling a significant reopening for Anhui’s capital.

Route Details: Schedules, Airlines, and Aircraft

China Eastern Airlines (中国东方航空, Zhōngguó Dōngfāng Hángkōng) operates the Hefei–Tokyo route 3 times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, using Boeing 737-800 aircraft configured with 162 seats. The flight departs Hefei at 08:30 and arrives at Tokyo Narita at 13:00 local time, with the return leg leaving Tokyo at 14:30 and landing back in Hefei at 18:00. Korean Air (大韩航空, Dàhán Hángkōng) runs the Hefei–Seoul route 4 times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, also using a Boeing 737-800 with 162 seats. The Seoul flight departs Hefei at 09:00, arrives at Incheon at 12:30, returns from Seoul at 13:30, and reaches Hefei by 15:00.

Both routes represent a 70% reduction in total journey time compared to previous connections that required transfers through Shanghai Pudong or Beijing Capital. For context, a typical Hefei–Tokyo itinerary with a layover in Shanghai previously took 8–10 hours door-to-door, while a Seoul trip with a bus or train transfer to Nanjing plus a flight added 6–9 hours. The new nonstop services operate year-round, with seasonal adjustments expected for summer 2025 peak demand.

Economic Implications for Anhui’s Global Business Community

For foreign enterprises operating in Anhui, these direct flights remove a structural barrier to regional investment. Hefei is home to over 1,200 foreign-invested enterprises (外商投资企业, wàishāng tóuzī qǐyè), including major manufacturers like BOE Display, Volkswagen’s EV joint venture with JAC, and Continental AG’s tire production facility. Before the pandemic, executive teams from these companies frequently traveled between Hefei and Tokyo or Seoul for board meetings, supplier audits, and technical exchanges—trips that now become same-day return journeys rather than overnight stays.

The economic uplift extends beyond corporate travel. Anhui attracted ¥12.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2023, with Japan and South Korea accounting for 18% of that total, according to the Anhui Provincial Department of Commerce. Direct air access is expected to accelerate FDI by reducing the perceived distance to Hefei. Tourism will also benefit: Anhui welcomed 410,000 Japanese and South Korean visitors in 2019, a number that collapsed to under 20,000 in 2021 and has been slow to recover due to limited air connectivity. The new routes target a recovery to 250,000 visitors from these two markets within 12 months.

How Hefei’s New Routes Compete with Regional Hubs

Hefei’s new direct services position the airport as a viable alternative to Shanghai Pudong and Nanjing Lukou for travelers from Anhui’s major cities. Shanghai Pudong offers 28 weekly flights to Tokyo and 35 to Seoul, but the ground transfer from Hefei to Shanghai takes 3 hours by high-speed rail (¥220 per person) plus 1 hour to reach the airport—adding 4 hours and significant cost to any itinerary. Nanjing Lukou, closer at 1.5 hours by train, has 14 weekly Tokyo flights and 21 weekly Seoul flights, but still requires a rail connection and offers less frequent departures than Hefei’s new nonstop schedule.

The following table compares key metrics for Hefei, Nanjing, and Shanghai for travelers based in Hefei:

For a business traveler departing from Hefei city center, the total time saved using Hefei’s new flights versus Shanghai Pudong is 3 hours per round trip to Tokyo and 3 hours to Seoul. That time saving, multiplied across 40 business trips per year for a mid-size foreign firm, equates to roughly 120 hours—or 15 working days—recovered annually. At an average executive cost of ¥2,000 per day, that represents ¥30,000 in productivity gains per traveler per year.

Three Common Pitfalls Booking New Hefei International Routes

Decision Framework: Which Hub Should Your Company Use for Japan and Korea Travel?

If your team is based in Hefei city center or within 40 km of Hefei Xinqiao Airport, choose the new direct Hefei flights for trips under 3 days—the time savings outweigh the higher fare. If your team is based in Hefei’s southern industrial zones (e.g., Feixi or Lujiang) closer to the Nanjing border, choose Nanjing Lukou for more frequent flight options and lower fares, especially for Tokyo travel. If your company has a Shanghai office or requires daily same-day connections for urgent technical support, Shanghai Pudong remains the hub with highest frequency—but expect 3 hours of ground transit each way.

Next Steps for Foreign Executives in Anhui

1. Update your company travel policy to include Hefei Xinqiao as the preferred departure point for Japan and Korea business trips. Review our guide on corporate travel optimization for Anhui-based firms for benchmarking data.
2. Schedule a route testing trip for your logistics or procurement team before committing to regular bookings. Use our approved airport services vendor list for ground transport and lounge access arrangements.
3. Review your Anhui visa strategy for Japan and South Korea to ensure multiple-entry visas are in place for key executives. Check the latest consulate processing times in Hefei to avoid bottlenecks.

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