Cheap flights from Cape Town to Shanghai

Cape Town
CPT
Hongqiao
SHA

Flight deals from Cape Town to Shanghai

Below you can see the best deals on flights Cape Town — Shanghai for upcoming dates. Direct and connecting flights from various airlines — compare prices and choose the right ticket.

The lowest price for the next 2 months is on 25 September, from $563.

Top 10 cheap flights from Cape Town to Shanghai

EK
EK
$ 735

Cape Town — Shanghai

20:00—22:20
9 Aug 2026
20 h 20 m
1 stop
EK
EK
$ 735

Cape Town — Shanghai

18:25—22:20
9 Aug 2026
21 h 55 m
1 stop
EK
EK
$ 735

Cape Town — Shanghai

20:00—15:30
9 Aug 2026
37 h 30 m
1 stop
EK
EK
$ 735

Cape Town — Shanghai

18:25—15:30
9 Aug 2026
39 h 5 m
1 stop
EK
EK
$ 735

Cape Town — Shanghai

20:00—22:20
10 Aug 2026
20 h 20 m
1 stop
EK
EK
$ 735

Cape Town — Shanghai

18:25—22:20
10 Aug 2026
21 h 55 m
1 stop
EK
EK
$ 735

Cape Town — Shanghai

20:00—15:30
10 Aug 2026
37 h 30 m
1 stop
EK
EK
$ 735

Cape Town — Shanghai

18:25—15:30
10 Aug 2026
39 h 5 m
1 stop
EK
EK
$ 735

Cape Town — Shanghai

13:15—15:30
11 Aug 2026
20 h 15 m
1 stop
EK
EK
$ 735

Cape Town — Shanghai

20:00—22:20
11 Aug 2026
20 h 20 m
1 stop

Prices were found in the last 72 hours and may change — check the exact price when you continue.

When is the best time to book a flight from Cape Town to Shanghai?

The price of a flight from Cape Town to Shanghai changes depending on how far ahead you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, book around 29 days before departure, when the average ticket costs about $547. Fares also tend to climb as the departure date gets closer.

About the Cape Town — Shanghai flight

Looking for cheap flights from Cape Town to Shanghai? There are no direct flights on this route, but you can compare convenient connections and fares from different airlines, then book your Cape Town — Shanghai ticket online.

There are no direct flights — tickets are sold with a connection (usually via Istanbul Airport), the whole trip with a connection takes about 31 h 50 min, flights are operated by Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, the distance between the cities is around 12,973 km.

Planning your trip? You may find our Shanghai travel guide, how to get from the airport into town and Shanghai weather forecast useful. To catch a low fare, use the low-price calendar and the monthly price chart on this page.

Facts about this route

from $563Min. price
SeptemberCheapest
JunePeak season
NoDirect flights
12,973 kmDistance
18 h 5 minTravel time

Flight ticket prices by day: Cape Town — Shanghai

Below is a calendar of the lowest flight ticket prices for Cape Town — Shanghai by day. Pick a convenient date and instantly see the fare. The cheapest flights on this route start from $563 in September, and the most expensive are around $739 in June. If your travel dates are flexible, the calendar will help you find the best price for your preferred period. To view round-trip fares, switch to the "Round trip" tab above the calendar, select your departure date — and the right-hand calendar will highlight the lowest prices for return flights on each day.

 
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Prices by month

Average one-way fares from Cape Town to Shanghai by month. Tickets are usually cheapest in June (around $478) and priciest in August (about $711) — use the table and chart below to pick the best time to fly.

MonthAverage priceLevelMonthAverage priceLevelMonthAverage priceLevel
Jan$674highMay$515lowSep$662high
Feb$490lowJun$478lowOct$601medium
Mar$552mediumJul$650highNov$564medium
Apr$637highAug$711highDec$699high

Some values are estimated based on seasonality.

When to fly

Weather in Shanghai: it is warmest in August (up to 32 °C on average) and coolest in January (around 9 °C). The driest month is December.

Tickets are usually cheapest in September and most expensive in June. Compare prices and weather by month in the charts below to pick the best time to fly.

Temperature · Shanghai

Dry and wet days · Shanghai

Wind speed and direction · Shanghai

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How to get the best deal on a Cape Town — Shanghai ticket

  • Book ahead: fares for Cape Town — Shanghai are usually lower 3–8 weeks before departure than at the last minute.
  • Play with your dates — Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday departures are often cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
  • The cheapest month to fly to Shanghai is usually September — plan your trip around it if your dates are flexible.
  • There are no direct flights — travellers usually connect via Istanbul Airport. Compare different connections: a layover adds time but lowers the price.
  • Watch the low-price calendar and the monthly price trend on this page — they make it easier to catch a good date.
  • Travelling light? Pick a cabin-baggage-only fare — tickets without checked luggage are noticeably cheaper.
  • Get to the airport in good time — about 2–3 hours before an international departure and roughly an hour before a domestic one.

Airlines

Flights on the Cape Town — Shanghai route are operated by 3 airlines; Ethiopian Airlines runs the most flights. There are no direct flights — compare carriers and convenient connections below.

There are no direct flights on the Cape Town — Shanghai route. Showing airlines offering connecting flights.
  • Ethiopian AirlinesET
    WebsiteFleet: 14517.1M pax/year
    • CPT → ADD → PVG (with stopover)
    Open →
  • Turkish AirlinesTK
    WebsiteFleet: 49283.4M pax/year
    • CPT → IST → PVG (with stopover)
    Open →
  • EmiratesEK
    WebsiteFleet: 26051.9M pax/year
    • CPT → DXB → PVG (with stopover)
    Open →

Cities and airports on the Cape Town — Shanghai route

Flights Cape Town — Shanghai depart from Cape Town International Airport and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Below are pages for the cities, countries, and airports on the route: airlines, schedules, and travel guides.

Departure

Cape Town

CPT
South Africa
About the cityHow to get thereWeatherAll about the country South Africa
Arrival

Shanghai

SHA
China
About the cityHow to get thereWeatherAll about the country China
Departure airports
Arrival airports

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Frequently asked questions about the Cape Town — Shanghai flight

How long is the flight from Cape Town to Shanghai?

There are no direct flights, so travel time depends on the connection in Istanbul Airport. Based on search data, the whole trip takes about 31 h 50 min including the layover.

How far is it from Cape Town to Shanghai?

The distance from Cape Town to Shanghai is about 12,973 km.

Are there direct flights from Cape Town to Shanghai?

There are no nonstop flights on this route — tickets are only available with a connection (usually via Istanbul Airport).

Which airlines fly from Cape Town to Shanghai?

Airlines operating Cape Town — Shanghai include Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Emirates. See the full list with schedules in the "Airlines" section on this page.

Which airports do Cape Town — Shanghai flights use?

Flights from Cape Town depart from Cape Town International Airport, and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. If a city has more than one airport, check which one your ticket uses before you travel.

How much is a ticket from Cape Town to Shanghai?

The price of a Cape Town — Shanghai ticket depends on your travel date, season and demand: it is usually cheapest to fly in September, and most expensive in June. Tickets typically cost between $563 and $739. Check the current lowest fare and low-price calendar on this page.

When is the best time to book flights Cape Town — Shanghai?

Flights Cape Town — Shanghai are usually cheaper when booked in advance — a few weeks before departure and away from peak dates; the most budget-friendly month to fly is September. Compare prices by month in the price trend chart on this page.

How can I find the cheapest flights from Cape Town to Shanghai?

To catch a low fare Cape Town — Shanghai, book a few weeks in advance, keep your dates flexible, and compare airlines and connecting options. The low-price calendar and monthly price chart on this page show the cheapest days and months at a glance: the most budget-friendly month to fly is usually September.

How early should I arrive at the airport?

For international flights, plan to be at the airport about 2–3 hours before departure, and around an hour before a domestic flight. Allow extra time during busy travel seasons and at large hubs, where check-in and security lines can be longer.

Where else you can fly from Cape Town

See all
JohannesburgDurbanGqeberhaHoedspruitGeorgeWindhoekMbombelaLondonEast LondonDubaiKimberleyAddis AbabaDohaFrankfurt am MainBloemfonteinLuandaParisMunichVictoria FallsMaunGaboroneSkukuzaAmsterdamUpingtonIstanbulWalvis BayNairobiHararePort LouisMaputoSingaporeAtlantaNew York CityWashington, D.C.LivingstoneLusakaSao PauloJamestownDar es SalaamKuala Lumpur

Where else you can fly from Shanghai

See all
BeijingChengduGuangzhouShenzhenHong KongSeoulTokyoKunmingXianOsakaQingdaoChongqingTaipeiBangkokShenyangDalianXiamenHarbinSingaporeWuhanChangshaChangchunSanyaGuiyangUrumqiHaikouTianjinZhuhaiMacauZhengzhouShantouTaiyuanJeju CityNanningKuala LumpurFuzhouYantaiLanzhouGuilinHo Chi Minh City

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