Shanghai’s tourism board says international arrivals for the 2025-26 New Year period are tracking 22 percent above last year, prompting Emirates, Delta and Air China to boost capacity into Pudong and Hongqiao airports. Travel-and-Tour World reports the carriers have added a combined 38 round-trip flights between 28 December and 3 January, including Emirates’ fifth-daily Dubai-Shanghai A380 rotation and Delta’s seasonal nonstop from Chicago.
Air China is also up-gauging several Beijing and Guangzhou services to twin-aisle A350s to absorb domestic-to-international connections. The airlines cite pent-up demand from expatriate workers reuniting with families and leisure travellers drawn by Shanghai’s city-sponsored drone-and-firework display on the Bund.
For travelers eager to seize these extra seats, sorting out entry paperwork early is essential. VisaHQ’s streamlined portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) walks applicants through every step of the Chinese visa process and clarifies eligibility for the 72-/144-hour visa-free transit option, ensuring passengers board with peace of mind instead of paperwork worries.
![Airlines Add Extra Seats to Shanghai as New Year Demand Surges]()
For businesses the capacity surge means greater seat availability for last-minute executive travel and lower fares on traditionally sold-out routes. Travel-management companies report average economy return fares from Europe to Shanghai falling 12 percent week-on-week.
Shanghai authorities are coordinating with border control to staff extra e-gates and have issued guidance encouraging travellers to complete the new digital arrival card before departure to cut queuing times. Hotels near the Bund and in Pudong report occupancy above 90 percent; corporate travellers should secure accommodation early or consider suburban districts such as Qingpu.
Looking ahead, carriers hint that some of the additional frequencies could become permanent if China’s visa-free transit programme continues to support inbound leisure and business flows beyond the holiday peak.
Air China is also up-gauging several Beijing and Guangzhou services to twin-aisle A350s to absorb domestic-to-international connections. The airlines cite pent-up demand from expatriate workers reuniting with families and leisure travellers drawn by Shanghai’s city-sponsored drone-and-firework display on the Bund.
For travelers eager to seize these extra seats, sorting out entry paperwork early is essential. VisaHQ’s streamlined portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) walks applicants through every step of the Chinese visa process and clarifies eligibility for the 72-/144-hour visa-free transit option, ensuring passengers board with peace of mind instead of paperwork worries.
For businesses the capacity surge means greater seat availability for last-minute executive travel and lower fares on traditionally sold-out routes. Travel-management companies report average economy return fares from Europe to Shanghai falling 12 percent week-on-week.
Shanghai authorities are coordinating with border control to staff extra e-gates and have issued guidance encouraging travellers to complete the new digital arrival card before departure to cut queuing times. Hotels near the Bund and in Pudong report occupancy above 90 percent; corporate travellers should secure accommodation early or consider suburban districts such as Qingpu.
Looking ahead, carriers hint that some of the additional frequencies could become permanent if China’s visa-free transit programme continues to support inbound leisure and business flows beyond the holiday peak.
