Fliggy, Alibaba Group’s leading online travel platform, has entered into a direct connectivity partnership with Ryanair, making the airline’s flights available to Chinese travellers through an authorised online sales channel. The agreement is expected to improve access to Ryanair’s extensive European network while supporting the growing demand for Europe-bound travel from China.
Direct connectivity opens Ryanair’s European network
Under the new partnership, Ryanair flights will be available for booking on Fliggy through the airline’s official API connection, allowing customers to access its official fares directly through the platform. The agreement covers its extensive European network, including popular destinations across the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, giving Chinese travellers more options when planning trips across the continent.
The direct connection is also designed to make the booking journey more convenient and transparent. Fliggy customers will have access to attractive fare options as well as myRyanair, Ryanair’s digital customer platform that provides post-booking services and support. The technical connection between the two companies is being facilitated by Atlas, a Ryanair-approved OTA aggregator partner, which provides the infrastructure required for the direct connectivity.
European travel demand continues to rise
The partnership comes at a time when Chinese demand for travel to Europe has strengthened over the past two years. According to Fliggy data, more than 10 European destinations ranked among the top 30 outbound destinations for Chinese travellers during the first half of 2026, demonstrating the continued popularity of European destinations among China’s outbound tourism market. For Ryanair, the agreement provides a major opportunity to strengthen its presence among Chinese travellers by gaining access to Fliggy’s community of more than 500 million registered members.
The airline currently serves more than 230 destinations across the United Kingdom, Ireland and continental Europe, offering Chinese travelers access to a wide range of destinations through its low-fare network. Ryanair CMO Dara Brady said the airline was pleased to add Fliggy to its growing network of partners. He said the agreement would allow Fliggy customers to book its low-fare flights while benefiting from price transparency and direct access to their bookings, strengthening the overall customer experience.
Fliggy Vice President and General Manager of Transportation Li Chen said the company was delighted to become Ryanair’s approved OTA partner in China. He highlighted the continued growth in demand for European travel among Chinese travellers and said the partnership would provide customers with a broader selection of European flights, better value and an improved end-to-end booking experience.
Ryanair bookings gain strong early momentum
The partnership has already generated a notable response from travellers. Fliggy reported that bookings for Ryanair flights on its platform have increased by more than 20% month on month since the launch of the direct connectivity partnership, providing an early indication of strong demand for the airline’s services among users of the Chinese travel platform.
The increase also highlights the potential of combining a major Chinese online travel marketplace with one of Europe’s largest low-cost airline networks. Easier access to Ryanair’s fares through a familiar booking platform could encourage more Chinese travellers to consider multi-destination European trips, particularly those seeking affordable air connections between different European markets.
Strengthening China-Europe tourism connectivity
The Fliggy Ryanair agreement represents a significant step in strengthening air travel and tourism connectivity between China and Europe. By bringing its extensive network onto one of China’s largest online travel platforms, the partnership gives Chinese consumers a more direct way to discover and book low-fare flights across numerous European destinations.
Beyond the immediate commercial benefits, the agreement reflects the growing role of digital travel platforms and affordable air connectivity in international tourism. With European destinations continuing to attract Chinese travellers and Ryanair expanding its reach through an authorised Chinese sales channel, the partnership could contribute to stronger travel flows between the two markets in the years ahead.
