China Eastern unveils WorldSkills-themed aircraft for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

On 25 May, the themed aircraft for the 48th WorldSkills Competition completed its inaugural flight for China Eastern Airlines, taking off from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and landing at Beijing Capital International Airport. Chen Jie, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Shanghai, and Gao Fei, President of China Eastern Airlines Holdings Co Ltd, jointly unveiled the aircraft.

Speaking at the ceremony, Francis Hourant, President of WorldSkills, said that preparations for the 48th WorldSkills Competition were proceeding smoothly, with young people from around the world preparing for an exceptionally large edition of the Competition. He expressed the hope that it would inspire more young people to value skills, seize better opportunities, and contribute to peace and development worldwide.

The exterior design of the aircraft incorporates 3D geometric patterns in WorldSkills brand colours — blue, green, yellow, and orange. The fuselage features the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 mascots Neng Neng and Qiao Qiao, depicted welcoming visitors with open arms. From the exclusive commemorative boarding pass to the headrest covers, luggage bins, and tray table decals, WorldSkills elements feature throughout the cabin.

The flight attendants on this trip, Chen Yifan and Wu Jiani, won Medallions for Excellence in Restaurant Service at the 44th and 45th WorldSkills Competitions respectively. Wu Jiani said that participating in the WorldSkills Competition and winning the award was a valuable experience. She wished the competition great success and hoped that more young people would embrace the Competition’s motto, ‘Master Skills, Change Your Future’.

As a top-tier sponsor of this edition of the WorldSkills Competition, China Eastern Airlines will provide a wide range of support for the event, including aircraft livery, transportation, protocol services, brand promotion and event organization. In the future, the ‘Skills for Success’ aircraft will operate across multiple domestic and international routes, extending an invitation to the world from Shanghai.