Emirates airline eyes expansion in China

Routes will serve both business and leisure travellers

Emirates airline will introduce additional routes to China in 2025 to capitalise on the rise in demand for travel between the Asian powerhouse and the UAE.

The decision to expand its China network aligns with the growing bilateral economic ties between the UAE and China following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in various sectors, including finance, infrastructure and technology, in 2021.

Trade between the two nations has surged in recent years, driven by China’s position as the UAE’s largest trading partner. The UAE has also become a critical hub for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure and investment project aimed at enhancing global trade routes. 

As both governments work to deepen economic cooperation, the airline has been steadily rebuilding its flight schedules to China.

Emirates already operates flights to major Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. 

The addition of new routes is expected to cater to both business and leisure travellers. The airline’s cargo division is also expected to see increased activity as trade volumes between the two countries continue to rise. 

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China is a key market for the UAE’s export sector, particularly in areas such as oil, petrochemicals and re-exports of goods from Africa and Europe. The UAE, in turn, imports a vast range of products from China, including electronics, machinery and textiles.

The UAE has become a popular destination for Chinese tourists and investors, with the country’s luxury hotels, shopping malls and real estate market attracting significant interest from Chinese nationals. 

"There is a huge change in the demographic and dynamics of how the Chinese market is operating," said Nabil Sultan, Executive Vice President of Passenger Sales and Country Management at Emirates. 

"We've seen more and more younger generations who have the purchasing power to go on holidays. They are tech-savvy, they speak English and they're international travellers. So, we're going to see a lot of these younger generations embarking on these journeys."

For more information, visit www.emirates.com

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