Virgin Atlantic Relaunches Flights to Shanghai
Virgin Atlantic is restarting its much-anticipated flights to Shanghai, re-establishing essential business and leisure connections between the United Kingdom and China. The daily service will resume on 1 May 2023, with fares starting from £432 per person.
The action follows an easing of travel restrictions between the two nations, which results in the opening of the borders to foreigners for the first time since December 23, 2020. After being affected by suspensions and closures since 1 February 2020 due to the global pandemic, Shanghai is the last route operated by Virgin Atlantic to be reinstated.
There has been a significant demand for both business and pleasure travel since the relaunch announcement earlier this year. As the largest city in China, Shanghai, the route will serve as a crucial link between the UK and one of its most important trading partners. One of the biggest freight hubs in the world is located in Shanghai, a city with a well-known business and financial district. Additionally, the diverse location offers visitors from the UK a fusion of cultures, from the futuristic skyline of the Pudong district to the traditional pavilions in Yu Gardens.
Virgin Atlantic will keep using a Boeing 787-9 for its flights to Shanghai. Customers may choose from a variety of experiences in the airline's three classes of Economy, Delight, Classic, and Light as well as the Upper Class and Premium cabins.
China Eastern, the airline's latest SkyTeam partner, also has a hub in Shanghai. Virgin Atlantic clients will be able to connect without a hitch to onward services thanks to the airline's extensive network of links across China and beyond. Members of flight Club will soon be able to accrue and use Virgin Points across China Eastern's flight programme as well as many other SkyTeam partners.
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.”
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. The airline’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.
Customers travelling to China will need to show proof of a negative PCR test before they enter the country, alongside a health declaration form. Customers should check https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china for the latest travel advice and visa requirements.