Singapore to Shanghai links two of Asia’s great commercial hubs with a non-stop flight of about 5h 15m, flown by a healthy mix of Singaporean and Chinese carriers. Competition keeps the fare remarkably tight: checking every ticket on sale, the non-stops cluster between S$396 and S$443, with a median of S$414. This guide covers who actually flies it, what a return really costs in Singapore dollars, and when to book.
Route: Singapore Changi (SIN) → Shanghai Pudong Intl (PVG)
Distance: approximately 3,800 km (2,370 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 5h 15m northbound — every non-stop we track runs 5h 15m to 5h 30m
Direct flights: Yes — nearly nine out of ten of the cheapest fares we track are non-stop. Singapore Airlines, China Eastern, Air China, Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines all fly Changi to Shanghai Pudong, with China Eastern and Juneyao Airlines supplying almost all of the low fares in our data.
Fares from Singapore to Shanghai (SGD)
Shanghai is a year-round destination, but fares swing sharply around China’s public-holiday travel peaks: Chinese New Year (late January or February), the Labour Day break in early May and the National Day “Golden Week” in early October are the busiest and dearest. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons to visit and reasonably priced. The figures below are typical economy return fares in Singapore dollars — the budget Chinese carriers set the floor, with Singapore Airlines a step up for the full-service extras.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | high (CNY) |
| February | — | high (CNY) |
| March | — | medium |
| April | — | medium |
| May | — | high (Labour Day) |
| June | — | medium |
| July | — | medium-high (school holidays) |
| August | — | medium |
| September | — | medium |
| October | — | high (Golden Week) |
| November | — | low-medium |
| December | — | medium-high (holidays) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write: the non-stops sit in a tight band of S$396 to S$443, median S$414 — Juneyao Airlines from S$396 and China Eastern from S$411. The only cheaper tickets are a handful of one-stop itineraries at S$333–S$337, which save about S$60 in exchange for a connection on a flight that is only five hours to begin with. So on this route S$400–S$420 is the going rate, anything under S$400 non-stop is a good price, and there is no point waiting for the sub-S$300 fares sometimes quoted — nothing on sale is below S$333.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 5½ hours):
- China Eastern — the Shanghai-based carrier with the most frequencies to its home hub at Pudong, and the single most common airline in our fare data, behind two thirds of the cheapest returns at S$411–S$443.
- Juneyao Airlines — a Shanghai-based hybrid carrier and the cheapest non-stop we can find, at S$396–S$417. Genuinely good value for a full-service alternative.
- Singapore Airlines — non-stop from Changi with a full widebody product, meals and generous checked baggage included. It did not appear among the cheapest fares we checked, so expect full-service pricing.
- Air China — a full-service Chinese flag carrier flying the route non-stop, with a broad onward network across China.
- Spring Airlines — China’s leading low-cost carrier, with bags and extras sold separately. It is often described as setting the lowest fare on this route, but it did not surface in our cheapest-fare sample; check it against Juneyao on your dates.
With five airlines flying it non-stop, there is little reason to connect — the one-stop itineraries in our data save only about S$60 on a five-hour flight. What is striking is how narrow the non-stop market is: barely S$47 separates the cheapest from the dearest. Juneyao and China Eastern set the price, and Singapore Airlines is the premium pick when you want the bag, the meal and the comfort included.
When to book & how to save
- Book 2–3 months ahead for the best balance of price and choice; fares climb sharply into the Chinese holiday peaks.
- Dodge the Golden Weeks: Chinese New Year, early-May Labour Day and early-October National Day are the busiest and most expensive travel windows — book far ahead or avoid them.
- Visit in spring or autumn (March–April, September–November) for the best weather and generally softer fares outside the holiday spikes.
- Check the visa rules: confirm your entry requirements for mainland China well before booking, and look into any transit-visa-free options if Shanghai is a stopover.
- Compare all-in on the low-cost carriers: Spring Airlines sells a lean base fare, so add a checked bag and compare the total against the full-service options.
Arriving in Shanghai
Non-stop flights land at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), about 30 km east of the city centre. The fastest way in is the Maglev train to Longyang Road (roughly 8 minutes at up to 300 km/h, around S$10 / 50 yuan), where you connect to the metro. The Shanghai Metro (Line 2) also runs directly from the airport into town more cheaply but far more slowly, while a metered taxi to central Shanghai costs roughly S$30–S$45 (about 150–220 yuan) and takes 45–70 minutes depending on traffic. Note that some domestic and regional flights use the older Hongqiao (SHA) airport on the west side — but the non-stop Singapore services all use Pudong.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Singapore to Shanghai?
Non-stop flights take about 5 hours 15 minutes northbound from Singapore to Shanghai Pudong — every non-stop we track runs between 5h15m and 5h30m. The return leg to Singapore is broadly similar. Several airlines fly the route direct every day, so there is no need to connect.
Are there direct flights from Singapore to Shanghai?
Yes. Singapore Airlines, China Eastern, Air China, Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines all fly non-stop between Changi and Shanghai Pudong (PVG), and nearly nine in ten of the cheapest fares we track are direct. In our data Juneyao is the cheapest at S$396 and China Eastern the most common; Singapore Airlines includes baggage and meals in a full-service cabin.
How much does it cost to fly from Singapore to Shanghai?
About S$414 return for a non-stop — the market is unusually tight, running S$396 to S$443, with Juneyao Airlines cheapest and China Eastern most common. A handful of one-stop itineraries go lower, to S$333–S$337. Chinese New Year, Labour Day and October’s Golden Week push everything to the top of the range.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Singapore to Shanghai?
September and November are among the quietest months to travel. On price, the non-stop fare barely moves: it held between S$396 and S$443 across the dates we could check. Avoid Chinese New Year (January–February), the early-May Labour Day break and the early-October Golden Week, which are the busiest and most expensive travel windows.
Which airlines fly from Singapore to Shanghai?
Non-stop: China Eastern and Juneyao Airlines supply almost all of the cheapest fares we track, at S$411–S$443 and S$396–S$417 respectively, alongside Singapore Airlines, Air China and Spring Airlines. Singapore Airlines and the Chinese full-service carriers include baggage and meals; Spring Airlines is a low-cost carrier selling a base fare with paid add-ons.
Which airport do I fly into in Shanghai?
You land at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), the city’s main international gateway, about 30 km east of the centre. All non-stop flights from Singapore use Pudong; the older Hongqiao (SHA) airport mainly handles domestic and short regional flights.
How far in advance should I book Singapore to Shanghai flights?
Aim to book 2 to 3 months ahead. Fares rise steeply into China’s holiday peaks — Chinese New Year, Labour Day and the October Golden Week — so early booking is essential if your dates fall near those windows.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Often, yes — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) tend to be a little cheaper than Friday–Sunday, and flying out and back midweek can save S$40–S$90 on a return. Being flexible by a day or two is one of the easiest ways to trim the fare on this route.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Prices are indicative economy returns and change with demand — always check the live fare before booking.
🔍 Every deal on AiFly passes automated verification gates and human editorial review before publishing — how we verify deals.
