Direct Shanghai to Athens Flights Begin with Juneyao Air

Juneyao Air inaugurates its direct flight service between Shanghai and Athens, marking a significant step in the airline's expansion and the "Belt and Road" initiative.

In a landmark event for international air travel, Juneyao Air celebrated the arrival of its inaugural direct flight from Shanghai to Athens at Athens International Airport. This new service, operational as of April 2, 2024, signifies the first new intercontinental route to Shanghai introduced this year and the fourth of its kind by Juneyao Air. It exemplifies the airline's dedication to enhancing high-value carrier construction and implementing its strategy for internationalization in alignment with the "Belt and Road" initiative.

Juneyao Air's Chairman, Wang Junjin, expressed gratitude towards both Chinese and Greek governmental departments, partners, and customers for their unwavering support in making the Shanghai-Athens route a reality. This achievement follows four years of preparation, underpinned by strong bilateral relations and economic cooperation between China and Greece.

The inaugural flight HO1657, operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner adorned with the "Colorful Petals" special livery, took off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and was greeted in Athens with the traditional water salute. This gesture of aviation's highest courtesy marked the successful launch of the three-times-weekly service connecting the two cities.

Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director of Communications & Marketing at Athens International Airport, hailed the launch as one of the airport's most significant developments, emphasizing the strategic importance of the direct Shanghai-Athens connection in catering to indirect passenger traffic from China.

Starting with three weekly flights every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, Juneyao Air aims to bridge Shanghai with Athens directly, enhancing connectivity and fostering cultural and economic exchanges between China and Greece. The introduction of this route reflects Juneyao Air's commitment to the "Belt and Road" initiative and its internationalization strategy, which includes increasing intercontinental routes, operational capabilities, and service standards.

Since deploying its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner and launching its inaugural intercontinental route in 2019, Juneyao Air has made significant strides in connecting China with key global destinations, now adding Athens to its growing network. With over 1,200 intercontinental flights and more than 220,000 passengers served to date, Juneyao Air continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing global connectivity.

Furthermore, the "Juneyao Journey" strategy by Juneyao Group aims to leverage this new route to penetrate the European market, promoting an integrated development model that spans civil aviation, tourism, and cultural industries. This approach seeks to provide seamless "door-to-door" travel experiences, showcasing the synergy between air travel and other sectors, including the launch of "Juneyao Auto" electric vehicles, thereby contributing to the high-level construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative between China and Europe.

For more information on the Shanghai-Athens direct service and other Juneyao Air routes, please visit the airline's official website.