China’s Fist Direct Flight to Venice Launched from Shanghai

On September 26th, the inaugural flight of MU785 took off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 00:50 local time, heading to Venice, the famous Italian tourist destination. This route is the first direct air connection between China and Venice, operating regularly 3 flights per week and offering a new choice for the upcoming travel rush of National Day holiday.

On the evening of September 25th, Shanghai Airport Authority and China Eastern jointly held the inaugural ceremony for the Shanghai-Venice route at Pudong International Airport. 

Mr. Yun QIN, Chairman of the Shanghai Airport Authority, stated that the Shanghai Airport and Venice Airport, standing as sister airports, have long been committed to promoting and deepening cooperation through direct air connections. The launch of this first non-stop air service between Shanghai and Venice will build a more convenient bridge in the air for the exchange and travel between the two countries. Currently, the airports of Shanghai operating 112 international destinations in 48 countries around the world. In the first eight months, the two airports in Shanghai accommodated the passenger volume of over 83 million persons, a year-on-year increase of 36%, and marked a new record high of one-day passenger traffic on August 11, 2024. The growth of inbound and outbound passenger traffic has been up 119% year-on-year, approaching 23 million persons. Mr. Qingchao WAN, Deputy General Manager of China Eastern, addressed that China Eastern was committed to strengthening its hubbing capacity of the global route network and striving to a first-class airline with global competitiveness. The launch of the Shanghai-Venice route marks another milestone in its progress of international air network. Mr. Massimo Ambrosetti, Italian Ambassador to China, Ms. Tiziana D'Angelo, Consul General of Italy in Shanghai, as well as representatives from local government authorities were presented at the event.

This May, China gave a boost to travel by extending the visa-free policy of short-term visits for citizens from Italy and 11 other countries to the end of 2025. As of the end of this September, China Eastern operates four routes between China and Italy, forming an air network spanning both ends of the east and west while connecting the north and south. This development has enhanced connectivity between China, Italy, and the broader Central European.

In a joint initiative by the municipal departments and the Shanghai Airport Authority, a comprehensive one-stop service center tailored for international inbound passengers will be fully extended at Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport. This initiative aims to provide a seamless array of services, covering payment, culture and tourism, communication and local transportation. In an ongoing effort to elevate travel experience, Shanghai is upping its game to smooth out the airport experience, to brand itself as a premier destination of international travel.