Cheap flights to Shanghai
Flights to Shanghai arrive at two major air hubs: Pudong International Airport, located 33 km from the center, and Hongqiao Airport. The route network covers numerous destinations, with flights from Beijing (977 departures per week), Chengdu (803 flights), and Guangzhou leading the way. Connections with the Japanese city of Tokyo are also in high demand, with more than 500 aircraft arriving weekly.
A total of 89 airlines operate regular flights, including major carriers like China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines, and Juneyao Airlines. Below on the page, you will find departure city cards with a convenient search feature, and additional travel planning information can be found in our travel guide or in the section on how to get to the city.
Wenzhou — Shanghai
Jeju City — Shanghai
Wuhan — Shanghai
Qingdao — Shanghai
Zhengzhou — Shanghai
Ho Chi Minh City — Shanghai
Dalian — Shanghai
Guangzhou — Shanghai
Huizhou — Shanghai
Nanchang — Shanghai
Zhuhai — Shanghai
Hong Kong — Shanghai
When is the best time to book a flight to Shanghai?
The price of a flight 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 $520. Fares also tend to climb as the departure date gets closer.
Flight insights to Shanghai
Data-driven trends for direct flights to Shanghai — how often airlines fly, where passengers come from, and typical fares and flight times.
Most frequent departure cities
The most frequent direct routes to Shanghai come from Beijing, Chengdu and Guangzhou. Beijing leads with around 977 flights a week.
Top departure countries
Most direct flights to Shanghai depart from China, Japan and Korea, Republic Of. China alone accounts for about 72% of all direct routes.
- Chinaavg $91
- Japanavg $118
- Korea, Republic Ofavg $76
- Hong Kongavg $75
- Thailandavg $105
Direct routes & fares
Popular non-stop routes to Shanghai range from Guangzhou at $72 to Tokyo at $152 — a quick way to compare direct-flight fares.
Cheapest departure cities
The cheapest places to fly to Shanghai from right now are Wenzhou from $50, Wuhan from $58 and Jeju City from $58.
Longest direct flights
The longest direct flight to Shanghai is from London at about 12h 19m, followed by Frankfurt am Main (11h 50m) and Moscow (9h 15m).
- London12h 19m
- Frankfurt am Main11h 50m
- Moscow9h 15m
- Singapore5h 22m
- Kuala Lumpur5h 18m
Popular departure cities to Shanghai
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ChinaFrequently asked questions
- How many cities have flights to Shanghai?
- Air connections link the metropolis with many parts of the world, with 15 key cities appearing on the list of most popular destinations. The majority of traffic comes from major Asian hubs and domestic Chinese routes.
- Which cities have the most frequent flights to Shanghai?
- The most popular departure cities are Beijing (977 flights per week), Chengdu (803 flights), and Guangzhou (796 flights). Other top destinations include Shenzhen and the Japanese city of Tokyo.
- How many airlines fly to Shanghai?
- A total of 89 airlines operate flights to the city. Among the most active carriers are China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines, and Juneyao Airlines, which provide a significant portion of the weekly traffic.
- Which airports handle flights to Shanghai?
- The main air gateways for the city are Shanghai Pudong and Shanghai Hongqiao. Pudong serves the majority of international routes, while Hongqiao is located closer to the center and focuses on domestic lines.
- When is the best time to buy flight tickets to Shanghai?
- It is best to book tickets 2–3 months before your trip, especially if it falls during Chinese national holiday periods. On our website, you can track price changes and select the best offers in the departure city cards.
- How to find cheap tickets to Shanghai?
- To find budget-friendly options, it is recommended to compare offers from various carriers, including low-cost airlines such as Spring Airlines. Sometimes flights with a layover in major Asian hubs allow you to find more attractive prices than direct flights.