Sister cities Shanghai and Dubai are set to come even closer when Emirates launches its second daily service to Shanghai on 1st February 2008.
Emirates launched passenger services to Shanghai in April 2004 and received a rousing welcome from both passengers and the travel trade alike.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates’ Executive Vice President Commercial Operations Worldwide said: “Emirates’ current daily service to Shanghai has been exceptionally successful and we are an airline of choice right across our customer spectrum – both passenger and trade.”
Shanghai is a much-sought-after destination among tourists for its popular art and ancient culture; its ultra-modern architectural landmarks such as Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower; the nightlife on the Bund, and the extensive shopping arcades. As a nerve centre for trade, commerce and business, the city is a must-visit destination for executives who conduct, or intend to conduct, business with China.
Trade and tourism ties between China and Dubai have grown significantly stronger in the past few years. Since Emirates’ launch to Shanghai, the number of Chinese hotel visitors in Dubai has more than doubled from 32,265 in 2004 to 68,504 in 2006. Dubai imported US$7.6 billion worth of Chinese goods and exported in excess of US$134 million to China.
Emirates’ second daily will be served by the airline’s wide-bodied, plush Airbus A340-300 with 267 seats in a three-class configuration – 12 seats in First Class, 42 in Business and 213 in Economy – offering 13 tonnes of cargo capacity.
Emirates currently operates a Boeing 777-300ER daily to Shanghai offering 364 seats in a three-class configuration – 12 seats in First Class, 42 in Business and 310 in Economy – and 23 tonnes of belly-hold capacity.
Emirates SkyCargo also operates six weekly Boeing 747-400F freighter services to Shanghai, offering a capacity of 120 tonnes each.
In China, besides Shanghai, Emirates also serves Beijing with a double daily service, and Hong Kong with 17 weekly passenger flights and 13 weekly freighter services.
Emirates flies five times weekly from Dubai to Malta via Larnaca in Cyprus, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on the Boeing 777-200.