In a bid to enhance connectivity and promote tourism between Shanghai and Karamay in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, direct flights are set to be launched by the end of 2025. The announcement was made during a promotion conference held in Shanghai's Changning district on April 15, with the aim of attracting visitors and boosting consumption in both regions.

Following the completion of the renovation and expansion of Karamay's Kelamayi Guhai Airport, the upcoming direct flight, operated by China Eastern Airlines, will link Shanghai and Karamay three times a week. Tu Weifeng, the deputy secretary-general of the Karamay municipal people's government, highlighted the growing demand for exchanges between the two regions, emphasizing that the new flight route will significantly reduce travel time from eight hours to less than five hours.

This initiative builds upon the success of the stopover flight route launched by China Eastern Airlines in July 2023, connecting Shanghai to Xi'an of Shaanxi province and onward to Karamay. With an impressive passenger load factor of nearly 90 percent from its inception to the end of March this year, the route has demonstrated a strong travel appeal between these destinations.