Emirates to launch first-ever non-stop flights from Dubai to Shanghai

Emirates is to launch a new passenger route between Dubai and Shanghai.

The new non-stop flights to the largest Chinese city (est. pop. 17 million-plus) were announced Monday in Shanghai by Richard Vaughan, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, East Asia and Australasia.

The new services will be the first-ever direct air passage between Dubai and mainland China, providing business and leisure travellers at both ends convenient access to two of the world’s fastest growing markets.

Starting from 10 April, Emirates will operate three flights a week between the two cities, on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Daily flights will commence from 15 May, offering even more convenient travel options between the two metropolises.

Flight EK302 will take off from Dubai International Airport at 02:15 hrs and land at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport at 14:55 hrs. The return flight EK303 from Shanghai will depart on the same day at 23:55 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 05:10 hrs the next morning. (All times are local.) 

Emirates will operate Airbus A340-300 aircraft on the new route, in a three-class configuration with 12, 42 and 213 seats in First, Business and Economy, respectively. Passengers will enjoy personal in-seat entertainment in all classes, meals designed by gourmet chefs, and award-winning inflight service.

Mr. Vaughan said: “Emirates is glad to offer customers yet another exciting destination. Shanghai is not only a huge and growing international commerce center, but also a buzzing hive for arts and cultural activities, making it an attractive destination for both business and leisure travellers.”

“We are also happy to provide Chinese travellers with an easier, more convenient route to Dubai, the most cosmopolitan and exciting city in the Middle East. 

“Dubai’s excellent geographic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and Asia, also means travellers from Shanghai can easily connect onwards to many other destinations in the Emirates network,” he added.

Mr. Vaughan noted that Shanghai and Dubai rank amongst the world’s fastest developing cities. Many Chinese business travellers already are familiar with the UAE, whilst in Dubai there’s a great deal of interest in fast-growing Shanghai.

“Emirates’ new direct services will facilitate the travel flow in both directions and will encourage a greater exchange of business, tourism and culture,” he said.

Even though it’s the first time that a direct passenger air link will be established between the two cities, Emirates has been serving China with passenger flights to Hong-Kong since 1991.

Emirates SkyCargo flights to Shanghai started in 2002, and to Dalian last year. Surging demand has led the airline to recently double the frequency of its freighter flights to Shanghai to four times a week.

Edwin Lau, Emirates’ Area Manager for Hong Kong and North East Asia said: “In recent years, we have watched an increase in passengers from Shanghai who connect to our Dubai route in Hong Kong, as well as growing demand from Middle Eastern travellers for the return route. When we started planning for direct flights to mainland China, Shanghai became an obvious choice.”

He added: “With Emirates’ new non-stop flights, moving between the two cities becomes even more convenient, while providing a very efficient connection to travellers transiting between China and destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and even North America, which Emirates will start serving with non-stop flights in June.”