Article from BTNews 17 DECEMBER 2018
Shanghai route takes to the air
An important new business route connecting London with China’s largest city – Shanghai – took off last week, giving British passengers direct access to an area responsible for a third of China’s imports and exports.
The new service, operated by China Eastern, the second largest airline in China, is set to fly to Shanghai Pudong Airport from Gatwick three times every week, on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, using an Airbus A330-200.
The route will provide more than 70,000 seats and 3,700-plus metric tonnes of cargo capacity every year as a further gateway to Shanghai, one of the world’s fastest-developing metropolises.
Accounting for 20% of China’s GDP, it is a global financial hub and the centre for trade, technology and real estate within its home country.
Gatwick chief commercial officer Guy Stephenson said: “The addition of one of the world’s biggest financial centres to Gatwick’s route network is very good news for the UK.
“It is particularly so as connections to China and other non-European countries are set to take on extra significance in the New Year and beyond. With China being one of the UK’s main trading partners, this is a vital business route.”
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Robert Shaw, UK / Burgess Hill
A welcome addition, LGW doing well attracting international services. Though no doubt the full to bursting LHR will do their usual and steal the route at the earliest opportunity. Amazing how they always find slots to take LGW international routes.