Shanghai, the most populous city in China, is set to join Emirates’ expanding list of Airbus A380 destinations, when the superjumbo begins its non-stop service from Dubai this week.

Shanghai is Emirates’ third destination in Greater China to welcome the Airbus A380, following the launch of the aircraft to Beijing on 1 August 2010 and Hong Kong on 1st October 2010.

Emirates’ 489-seater A380, which is the first scheduled A380 service to Shanghai, is operating three days a week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) as EK302 departing Dubai at 0310hrs (local time) and arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 1530hrs (local). The return flight EK303 departs Shanghai at 2330hrs (local) and arrives in Dubai at 0430hrs (local) the following day.

“Thanks to the support that we have received from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the Shanghai Airport Authority, Shanghai is the latest destination to join our global Airbus A380 network. Emirates currently has 15 A380s in service, flying from Dubai to 10 countries around the world,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group.

“We are happy to welcome Shanghai’s first A380 flight to land at Shanghai Pudong Airport, having adapted the facilities and enforced thorough safeguard measures for A380s to ensure the smooth operations of this revolutionary superjumbo,” said Mr Yu Wuyan, Vice President, Shanghai Airport Authority & Chairman of the Board, Shanghai International Airport.

Shanghai, famous for its historical landmarks, such as the Bund and its modern and ever-expanding skyline, was the host city for the 184 day 2010 World Expo, which attracted over 73 million visitors and allowed countries from around the world to showcase themselves on a world stage.

Currently Emirates operates double-daily services each to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and daily services to Guangzhou; while the airline’s fleet of 15 A380s are currently operating on services from Dubai to London Heathrow (double-daily), Manchester, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Toronto, Seoul, Bangkok, Beijing, Jeddah, New York, Hong Kong, Sydney and Auckland.

Emirates operates flights on a daily schedule from Malta to Dubai via Larnaka, Cyprus.