Virgin Atlantic has confirmed it is restarting flights to Shanghai.
The daily service will resume on 1 May 2023, with fares starting from £432 per person, with capacity opened to both passenger and cargo traffic.
The move comes following a relaxation in travel restrictions between the two countries, which sees the borders reopening to foreign nationals for the first time since 23 December 2020.
Shanghai is Virgin Atlantic’s final route to be re-instated following the global pandemic, having been impacted by suspensions and closures since 1 February 2020.
Virgin Atlantic’s Shanghai flights will continue to operate on a Boeing 787-9. Customers can enjoy a selection of experiences across three cabins; Upper Class, Premium alongside the airline’s three classes of Economy, Delight, Classic and Light.
The airline has noticed a strong demand for both business and leisure travel in both directions
For passengers, there will be bew options too, as Shanghai is a hub for the airline’s new SkyTeam partner, China Eastern. This will allow you to connect onwards to destinations throughout China and beyond.
More importantly, Flying Club members will soon have the opportunity to earn and redeem Virgin Points across China Eastern’s flying programme, alongside many other SkyTeam partners.
In Quotes
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, commented:
“The restart of our services to Shanghai is a major milestone for Virgin Atlantic. Shanghai was the first of our routes to be suspended in 2020 at the start of the global pandemic and the last to return, making it the final piece to restore our flying programme to full capacity.
“After such a long hiatus, we’re looking forward to welcoming our customers back to Shanghai and providing vital links to one of the UK’s largest trading partners, for both passenger and cargo services.”
Some restrictions still apply
Customers If you are planning to travel to China, you will need to show proof of a negative PCR test before you enter the country, alongside a health declaration form. You should check https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china for the latest travel advice and visa requirements.
Returning to Pre-Pandemic strengths
The return to China will complement the rest of Virgin Atlantic’s global route network which includes the USA & Caribbean, South Africa, Nigeria and India.
That will be an important point in the airline’s route and network development, as it continues to identify its next steps, where to serve and what routes are economically viable.
In addition, Virgin Atlantic’s Tel Aviv service has doubled capacity this summer, operating a double daily service. New routes to the Maldives and Turks and Caicos will also commence later this year, whilst they are planning to drop services to Pakistan later this year.
For now, the airline is building upward – as opposed to attempting to recover its position.
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