Summary
- China Eastern Airlines is launching the first-ever direct flight between Shanghai and Istanbul.
- Operating three times a week, the new route aims to strengthen economic ties and increase tourism.
- The launch of this new flight reflects the recovery of China's civil aviation industry.
China Eastern Airlines has announced a direct flight from its base in Shanghai to Istanbul starting September 28. The airline will connect Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Istanbul Airport (IST) with non-stop flights three times a week. The new flight will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from Shanghai.
First of its kind
The flight announced by China Eastern Airlines is going to be the first of its kind. Situated on both sides of the Bosphorus Strait that divides Asia and Europe, Istanbul is the only city in the world that sits across the two continents. The airline said in a statement to China Daily,
It will be the first of its kind between the two cities operated by a Chinese airliner.
The outgoing flight from Shanghai PVG will depart at 01:30 hours local time for a 12-hour journey to Istanbul. The flight arrives in IST at 08:30 hours local time. The return flight leaves IST the same day at 14:00 hours and arrives in PVG at 17:30 hours local time for a flight time of 10 hours and 30 minutes.
Turkish Airlines is the only other carrier that operates scheduled flights between the two city pairs. The carrier operates 1x daily non-stop flights between IST and PVG. The details of the flights between the two cities are listed here.
Turkish Airlines (TK26/27) - 1x daily (existing flight)
- TK26 Departs IST 01:25, Arrives PVG 16:45 hours
- TK27 Departs PVG 22:25, Arrives IST 05:15 hours
China Eastern (MU703/704) - 3x weekly (starting September 28)
- MU703 Departs PVG 01:30, Arrives IST 08:30 hours
- MU704 Departs IST 14:00, Arrives PVG 17:30 hours
The new service from China Eastern will complement the existing service between the cities and improve domestic demand. The schedule is expected to cater to business and leisure travelers, enabling easy connections to further destinations in Europe and Africa.
Recovery of China’s Civil Aviation
China’s civil aviation has been on a steady path to recovery after the lingering effects of the pandemic. While most of the world saw a recovery in air travel beginning in the summer of 2021, air travel to and from China was restricted up until recently. China Eastern, as one of the “big three” airlines in China, is actively reviving its international network by resuming or adding new flights.
The new route to Istanbul aims to strengthen economic ties between the two countries and also increase tourism. The new route will better serve China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is aimed at infrastructure financing to Asia, Europe, and Africa.
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China Eastern Airlines operates 248 regional, domestic, and international destinations. The airline's main hubs are PVG and the smaller Hongqiao Airport (SHA). The airline operates a fleet of 619 aircraft, having a mix of narrowbody and widebody Airbus, Boeing, and COMAC aircraft.
What are your thoughts on the launch of a new flight between PVG and IST by China Eastern Airlines? Tell us in the comments section.
Source: China Daily