China Eastern boosts frequencies, upgrades First and Business Class

China Eastern Airlines (CEAir) will boost flight frequencies on international and regional routes and upgrade services for First and Business Class passengers during the 2026-2027 winter season, which began on October 25. The airline will operate more than 180 international and regional routes covering over 40 countries and regions, with an average of more than 430 flights scheduled daily. It will resume flights between Adelaide and Shanghai, increase flight frequencies on the Buenos Aires-Auckland-Shanghai route, and add seasonal flights on routes linking Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane with Shanghai. More flights will be added on routes linking Frankfurt, London, and Vancouver with Shanghai. International routes launched or resumed during the 2026 summer season, including the routes connecting Dublin, Stockholm, and Tbilisi with Shanghai, will continue operating through the winter season. The airline will also increase flight frequencies on Asian routes, such as the routes linking Bali, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur with Shanghai, as well as the routes connecting Bangkok and Chiang Mai with Kunming. Many routes, including those linking Singapore, Bangkok, and Seoul with Shanghai, the route between Bangkok and Kunming, and the Seoul-Qingdao route, will operate at high frequencies. To better meet the needs of passengers awaiting flights and making connections, CEAir has reconfigured some of its self-operated VIP lounges in Shanghai, Beijing, and Xi’an, creating dedicated spaces for first and business class passengers and adding more than 400 seats. The lounges have also added seasonal drinks, bread, desserts, and snacks, alongside MU Noodles, a signature dish featuring local flavors, to their food and beverage offerings. Eligible First and Business Class passengers can book complimentary airport transfer services in many cities across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania, and access exclusive benefits and online customer service through CEAir’s international app. A dedicated customer service line is also available for them. CEAir has introduced new in-flight meals featuring premium ingredients for First and Business Class passengers on 12 international long-haul routes departing Shanghai for New York, Paris, and London, among other destinations. Building on its signature MU Tea, it has rolled out a refreshed lineup of onboard beverages, including alcoholic drinks, coffee, sparkling tea, and specially crafted beverages. All CEAir wide-body aircraft offer complimentary high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi for first and business class passengers. Qantas launching new service to Cape Town Australian flag carrier Qantas has launched a new seasonal service between Sydney and Cape Town. The new route comes 75 years after Qantas operated its first scheduled passenger service to South Africa. In 1952, the Wallaby Route to Johannesburg took 66 hours via Perth, the Cocos Islands and Mauritius. Next November, customers will be able to leave Sydney in the morning and land in Cape Town the same day. More than 120,000 Australians visited South Africa in 2025, with demand continuing to grow. In June this year, Australia overtook Germany to become South Africa’s third-largest overseas source market, with arrivals up 19 per cent year on year. The route will also bring families and friends closer together, with almost 225,000 South African-born people calling Australia home and around a quarter of them residing in New South Wales. Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said: “Cape Town is a true bucket-list city and Australia’s appetite to visit has never been stronger. Each year, tens of thousands of customers use our existing Johannesburg services to connect to Cape Town through our partner airlines Airlink, so we know there’s strong demand for a non-stop service. The arrival of our new 787s as part of our historic fleet renewal gives us the flexibility to grow our international network in places we know our customers want to travel, while also creating new opportunities for our people.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]