A promotion conference held in Shanghai's Changning district on April 15 announced the upcoming launch of direct flights between Shanghai and Karamay in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. This initiative aims to enhance connectivity, promote tourism, and boost consumption in both regions.

The direct flights, operated by China Eastern Airlines, are scheduled to commence by the end of 2025, following the completion of the renovation and expansion of Karamay's Kelamayi Guhai Airport. The route will operate three times a week, significantly reducing travel time between the two cities from eight hours to less than five hours.

Tu Weifeng, the deputy secretary-general of the Karamay municipal people's government, emphasized the growing demand for exchanges between Shanghai and Karamay, highlighting the positive impact of the new flight route. This initiative builds upon the success of the stopover flight route launched by China Eastern Airlines in July 2023, which connects Shanghai to Xi'an of Shaanxi province and onward to Karamay. The stopover route has demonstrated strong travel appeal, with a passenger load factor of nearly 90 percent from its inception to the end of March this year.