Shanghai Airlines’ intriguing newest route
Shanghai Airlines’ newest route is its only one to Africa.
Water salute in Casablanca (CMN). Shanghai Airlines has one my favorite liveries. (Picture: China Daily)
Shanghai Airlines’ flight to Casablanca via Marseille was inaugurated on January 19th, 2025.
As Chinese airlines seem to be eager to expand into the African continent, the China Eastern subsidiary, Shanghai Airlines, received permission from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to operate a route to Morocco via France back in December of 2024. Flight FM871 connects Shanghai (PVG), China to Casablanca (CMN), Morocco with a tag in Marseille (MRS), France. Although it was unclear at first whether passengers would be able to book the France-Morocco segment, it appears as though it is impossible to do so, meaning that it is unfortunately not a 5th freedom flight.
The flight is the airlines’ longest. (Picture: Great Circle Map)
Shanghai’s 787-9 is the aircraft chosen for this mission to North Africa. The red-painted Boeings are configurated with 4 first class seats, 26 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 227 economy class seats for a total of 285 seats.
The schedule is as follows, Shanghai Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner departs Shanghai (PVG), China at 1:50 AM to arrive at 8:50 AM in Marseille (MRS), France. It then leaves Southern France at 10:50 AM for a 2-hour flight to Casablanca (CMN), Morocco, arriving at 12:20 PM. The distance between Shanghai and Marseille is 9,534 km while the distance between Marseille and Casablanca is 1,577 km, giving us a total of 11,109 km. FM871 is currently operated at a frequency of 3 times a week..
This flight is the company’s longest well in front of FM869; Shanghai’s Budapest flight.
Shanghai Airlines’ premium economy cabin. (Picture: China Eastern/Shanghai Airlines)
No fifth-freedom rights were granted.
The choice of Marseille is pretty awesome for the second-most populated city in France. It is the city’s only connection to Asia and China so I assume it was needed and will be very beneficial for Chinese and Asian tourists wanting to visit Southern France and vice-versa. I imagine the decision to operate via MRS must be due to concerns about the profitability of such a new route.
Although I must say, I am a little disappointed this isn’t a fifth-freedom flight. It would’ve been terrific for the Moroccan-French community to be able to travel on a short flight between the two continents onboard a spacious widebody and would’ve brought some competition to Royal Air Maroc’s AT733 flight.
Royal Air Maroc uses a mix of Embraer E190ARs and Boeing 737s between Casablanca and Marseille. (Picture: Styyx)
Conclusion
It is incredibly satisfying to see North Africa getting more flights to East Asia, as of April 2025, 3 North African carriers and 1 other Chinese airline have operations in the market; Egyptair, from Cairo (CAI) to Guangzhou (CAN), Hangzhou (HGH), Shanghai (PVG) and Beijing (PEK), Royal Air Maroc, from Casablanca (CMN) to Beijing (PKX), Air Algérie from Algiers (ALG) to Beijing (PEK), China Eastern from Shanghai (PVG) to Cairo (CAI), Hainan Airlines from Shenzhen (SZX) to Cairo (CAI).
