Shanghai Airlines officially launched a new route connecting China to Morocco on Sunday, January 19, strengthening air links between Asia and North Africa. This new service marks a significant milestone in the airline’s international expansion, linking Shanghai to Casablanca via Marseille.
Flights will depart three times a week from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca, with a stopover in Marseille-Provence. The route will be serviced by Boeing 787-9 aircraft, known for their comfort and fuel efficiency.
The approval by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in the third quarter of 2024 to operate up to five weekly flights on this route underscores Shanghai Airlines’ ambition to become a major player on this air corridor. This inaugural flight also represents the airline’s first venture into the African continent, establishing the second direct connection between mainland China and Morocco, alongside flights operated by Royal Air Maroc between Casablanca and Beijing Daxing International Airport.
This launch follows the growth trajectory of Shanghai Airlines’ parent company, China Eastern Airlines, which opened its first direct route to North Africa in December 2024, connecting Shanghai to Cairo, Egypt. This 8,363 km route is operated daily with Airbus A350-900s, competing with EgyptAir, a Star Alliance member, which offers two weekly flights on the same route with Boeing 787-9s.
With the addition of the Shanghai-Marseille-Casablanca route, the weekly seat capacity between mainland China and North Africa will reach approximately 28,100, marking a 22% increase from the previous year and a dramatic leap of nearly 20,000 seats compared to 2019 levels.
This new route, it has been noted, highlights the increasing desire of Chinese airlines to intensify their interactions with North Africa, thereby enhancing economic, cultural, and tourist ties between these two strategic regions.