China Eastern Airlines has unveiled plans to inaugurate its first-ever direct flight route between Shanghai and Istanbul, commencing operations on September 28, 2023. This groundbreaking development marks a significant milestone as it becomes the first direct air link connecting China and Turkey, bridging these two global metropolises and pivotal aviation hubs.
The Shanghai-Istanbul route will be identified by the flight numbers MU703/704 and will operate thrice a week. Departing from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 01:30 Beijing time every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, the flight is scheduled to touch down at Istanbul Airport at 08:30 local time. On the return journey, flights will depart Istanbul Airport at 14:00 local time on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 05:30 Beijing time the following day.
The flight schedule has been thoughtfully crafted to cater to both direct and connecting passengers. Direct travelers will benefit from convenient and efficient travel, while connecting passengers gain access to an expanded array of options, streamlining their journey. Passengers arriving in Istanbul at 08:30 in the morning will find seamless connectivity to subsequent flights bound for destinations across Europe, Africa, and beyond. Similarly, passengers arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport can leverage the airport’s extensive network to efficiently connect to domestic destinations within mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, as well as flights to Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea.
Strategic Partnership with Turkish Airlines:
China Eastern Airlines is launching this route in conjunction with plans for collaboration with Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines currently operates daily service on the Istanbul (IST) to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) route, utilizing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Both airlines have formalized their partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), pledging to strengthen cooperation. The collaboration is anticipated to maximize benefits by capitalizing on the extensive networks of Turkish Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.
Istanbul, a city uniquely straddling two continents along the Bosphorus Strait, holds a distinctive position as the only city in the world situated on both the European and Asian continents. The launch of this route underscores China Eastern Airlines’ commitment to expanding its international route network in response to the burgeoning demand in the civil aviation travel market for 2023, with the Shanghai-Istanbul route emerging as a focal point. China Eastern CEO Li Yangmin acknowledges that the introduction of air service from Pudong to Istanbul will further facilitate trade and passenger movement between the two nations.
This historic milestone solidifies China Eastern Airlines’ dedication to fostering global connectivity and providing passengers with enhanced travel opportunities between China and Turkey.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, China Eastern Airlines
