Delta’s Nonstop Atlanta-Shanghai Service Puts All Of China In Reach

The Spirit of Atlanta departing LAX. AeroMexico Connect ERJ-145 XA-TAC waiting to taxi.

The splendors of Shanghai are about to get a little bit closer for travelers flying out of the United States now that Delta Air Lines has announced a new China-bound route. Delta’s new direct route between Atlanta and Shanghai is stirring up a lot of buzz. The route connects Shanghai Pudong International Airport with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Passengers who use the new route will have the ability to book connecting flights to an additional 70 destinations within China. The new options are being offered as part of a partnership between Delta and China Eastern Airlines. Delta is no stranger to the Asian market. Delta already offers direct flights that connect Atlanta with Tokyo and Seoul. What’s more, Delta passengers can already get to Shanghai from Detroit, Seattle and Los Angeles.

Delta celebrated its new route between Atlanta and Shanghai with a special ceremony at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta. The ceremony drew an impressive roster of guests that included state officials and members of tourism associations from Georgia and China. The launch of the new service is being viewed as a way to connect Atlanta and Shanghai on both a cultural and an economic level.

Delta chose its new Shanghai route based on customer feedback from passengers flying out of Atlanta. It is expected that this route will be a big hit among business travelers. Georgia has more than 100 Chinese-owned businesses located within the state. In addition, dozens of Georgia-based businesses are actually located in China. Of course, the fact that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the United States means that people from all over the world will be using Georgia as a launching point to connect to Shanghai.

While the route was announced back in the summer of 2017, it wasn’t until this week that the first flight between Shanghai and Atlanta took off. Delta has been hard at work expanding its global presence in important hubs around the world. Delta is especially focused on growing its presence throughout the Pacific. The airline has formed partnerships with both China Eastern and Korean Air as a way to offer more routes to more places. In addition to the exciting new route to Shanghai, Delta is also launching new routes that will take passengers from Seattle to Osaka and Minneapolis-St. Paul to Seoul.

Delta’s new direct route between Atlanta and Shanghai operates daily. It is offered using the Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. Passengers who fly the route can look forward to perks like on-demand entertainment, satellite-based Wi-Fi and an abundance of power ports. Delta One customers can choose from 37 lie-flat seats that offer direct aisle access. The rest of the plane is divided between 36 Delta Comfort+ seats and 218 economy seats.

[Image Source: Wikimedia Commons]