China Eastern looks to launch direct Perth-Shanghai flights

By David Flynn, May 22 2017
China Eastern looks to launch direct Perth-Shanghai flights

China Eastern Airlines could launch direct flights between Perth and Shanghai by year's end, providing the WA capital with only its second non-stop link to China alongside China Southern's Boeing 787 service to Guangzhou.

The Shanghai-based airline – which is a Qantas partner as well as a member of the SkyTeam alliance –  has confirmed it is "exploring the possibility of direct flights from Shanghai to Perth," which could span from a cautious four flights a week to an optimistic daily run.

The flights between the WA capital and China's commercial metropolis would use one of China Eastern's sizeable Airbus A330 fleet, although the airline also intends to fly the Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 from 2018 onwards on selected international routes.

China Eastern's move comes as Australian and Chinese airlines both take advantage of an "open skies" agreement for flights between China and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.

Qantas earlier this year restarted flights between Sydney and Beijing, while Virgin Australia is eyeing services on as as-yet-undeclared route between "a major Australian city" and a Chinese destination as part of its alliance with HNA Aviation Group.

Air China will kick off Melbourne-Shenzhen flights from June 20, while several smaller Chinese airlines have recently begun or soon plan to open up additional routes.

David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

10 Aug 2015

Total posts 125

BNE Daily from PVG would be nice

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Feb 2015

Total posts 377

They offer daily services to PVG in the busy time if the year (Chinese new year) and 4 x weekly throughout the rest of the year. I have heard they hope to be daily by late 2017 or early 2018 year round.

10 Aug 2015

Total posts 125

It wasn't daily at all last/early this year during peak periods due to slot constraints at PVG

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Feb 2015

Total posts 377

OK, thanks for clarifying. Hopefully they get the slots and can be daily in 2018. 

21 Sep 2011

Total posts 70

Will you be at Juneyao Air ceremony tomorrow? Perhaps ask them about their plan to launch Australia once they get their 787-9's. 

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

02 Jul 2011

Total posts 1378

Could MU and JQ also move to T4 along with QFi


EK would struggle due to lack of A380 gates.

Would certainly enable more use of a T4 International precinct, even with swing gates

14 Jan 2016

Total posts 1

Just checking but isin't the current China Southern service an A330? Or is the A330 temporary? 

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Jan 2016

Total posts 5

I would love a direct PER-PVG/SHA service. We have rubbish timing/ connections at the moment. Cathay is the best option currently. 

It would be great if CEA did a code share with Qantas, though I suspect that is highly unlikely 


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