A 28 July RoutesOnline update reveals that privately-owned Juneyao Air will raise Shanghai Pudong–Athens flights to six times weekly immediately and plans to operate daily from 28 September, before reverting to a four-weekly winter schedule. Shanghai Pudong–Manchester services increase to five flights per week for the rest of the summer season. The capacity boost is timed to capture pent-up demand after the EU’s inclusion in China’s unilateral visa-free list earlier this year and coincides with Athens airport’s new Chinese-language e-gate signage. Corporate travellers gain additional options for connecting to Mediterranean shipyards and the UK’s Northern Powerhouse region without transiting through hubs. For HR and travel managers, the higher frequency improves flexibility for short-notice assignments and mitigates risks of re-accommodation during typhoon season. Companies should, however, review cost ceilings as average fares on the Athens route remain 15 percent above 2019 levels due to strong leisure demand. Juneyao’s expanded European footprint also aligns with Shanghai’s push to be Asia’s leading aviation hub and may prompt alliance partners to pursue code-shares, offering further network depth for Chinese outbound business travellers.
Source: Aviation Week / Routesonline
