BA and Virgin Atlantic both restart flights to Shanghai for the first time since Covid: Airlines reopen routes to Chinese city after Xi Jinping finally lifted brutal lockdown following protests

• Airline will resume operations following relaxation of China’s travel restrictions
• Heathrow-Shanghai is Virgin Atlantic’s final route to be reinstated after Covid 

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic both announced today they will restart flights to Shanghai for the first time since Covid.

The airlines have not operated flights on the route since December 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

They said they will resume operations following a relaxation of China’s travel restrictions, with borders reopened to foreign nationals for the first time since 2020.

Western airlines have been reluctant to resume operations to and from Asia because of tougher coronavirus rules.

BA says it will resume flights to Shanghai from April 23 and Virgin from May 1. BA is also putting on trips to Beijing once more from June 3.

Virgin Atlantic has announced it will restart flights between London Heathrow and the Chinese city of Shanghai on May 1, ending a two-and-a-half-year suspension

It said it will resume operations following a relaxation of China’s travel restrictions, with borders reopened to foreign nationals for the first time since 2020

Western airlines have been reluctant to resume operations to and from Asia because of tougher coronavirus rules

Noella Ferns, British Airways’ Head of Sales, Asia Pacific, said: ‘We can’t wait to welcome our customers back on board our flights from Shanghai and Beijing. 

‘We know they’ve been looking forward to reuniting with family and friends, coming to study in the UK and resuming business between China and the UK. 

‘We have an incredibly rich history of flying to mainland China, having connected the two countries for more than 40 years. We look forward to resuming these routes again.’ 

Heathrow-Shanghai is Virgin Atlantic’s final route to be reinstated after pandemic-related suspensions. 

Virgin’s chief commercial officer, Juha Jarvinen, said: ‘The return of our Shanghai services has been a long-time coming and I’m delighted it’s finally a reality.

‘We’re looking forward to welcoming our customers back on board and providing vital links to one of the UK’s largest trading partners, for both passenger and cargo services.

‘Shanghai is the final route to return following the global pandemic, restoring our flying programme to full capacity.

‘Our focus for 2023 is on delivery, as we look forward to launching routes to new destinations, welcoming brand new clean, green aircraft and getting back to our best for our customers and people.’

The airline will double capacity on its Tel Aviv service this summer, and open new routes to the Maldives and Turks and Caicos later this year.

Source: Read Full Article