The news could really lift the spirits of travelers from Lyon! The Chinese airline China Eastern Airlines has launched a feasibility study for a future direct route between Shanghai and Lyon. If the project goes ahead, it would simply be the first non-stop flight between China and a French city outside of Paris.
An ambitious expansion strategy towards Europe
In early March 2026, China Eastern Airlines revealed a .An important redesign of its international network. Several new routes have already been confirmed, including between Shanghai and Tashkent, and also between Xi’an and Vienna. In this context, Lyon is among six European destinations currently being studied alongside Prague, Belgrade, and Birmingham. The goal is simple: to analyze demand and potential profitability before giving the green light for a new route.
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With a fleet of around 700 planes serving more than 230 destinations worldwide, the airline has the resources to quickly launch a route when the economic indicators look good.
Lyon, a strategic airport but not well connected to Asia
The Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport stands out as the second largest regional airport in France with over 10 million passengers recorded in 2023 and more than 130 destinations served. Yet, despite this growth, a gap remains: there are currently no direct flights to Asia. Travelers must always connect via Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, Amsterdam or Frankfurt to reach China.
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A direct flight to Shanghai would represent a major opportunity for the regional economy, particularly in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and industrial sectors, which already have established connections.
acute;troits with the Chinese market.A significant time saver for travelers
Today, traveling from Lyon to Shanghai often takes between 15 and 25 hours, depending on layovers. A direct flight would reduce this time to about 11 or 12 hours, offering potential time savings of several hours for travelers. Ticket prices could also change. The arrival of a new operator on this route would create direct competition with itineraries via European hubs. A situation that could help lower fares, which are often between 700 and 900 euros during peak season.
For now, nothing is officially confirmed. A feasibility study simply means the company is analyzing several factors: the actual passenger demand, the availability of slots at the Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport or even...international agreements on air traffic. But the precedents are encouraging. Some routes considered by the company, like the connection between Xi’an and Vienna, have been quickly confirmed after analysis.
Source : Ulysse