Dubai’s Emirates to resume passenger services to Shanghai, Beijing

Dubai-based carrier Emirates will ramp up its operations in China ahead of the New Lunar Year, boosting connectivity to the country’s gateways.

The airline will resume its passenger services to Shanghai from January 20, 2023, with a twice weekly service, operated by an Airbus A380 aircraft.

We’re back and better in China as we ramp up our operations, in time for the Lunar New Year and bringing more connectivity to the region! ?? https://t.co/ibA5zQMBGQ pic.twitter.com/KyYPbUpJsS

— Emirates (@emirates) January 16, 2023

Flight EK302 will operate non-stop between Dubai and Shanghai, while flight EK303 will make a short stop in Bangkok before returning to Dubai. This service will soar up to four weekly flights operated by a three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from February 2, 2023.

During this period, flight EK302 will depart Dubai at 3.45am and arrive in Shanghai at 3.40pm. Meanwhile, the return flight EK303 will depart Shanghai at 5.40pm and arrive in Bangkok at 9.45pm, before taking off from the Thai capital at 11.20pm and landing in Dubai at 3.20am the next day. All times are local.

The carrier will further boost its services on the Dubai-Shanghai route from March 1, with a daily non-stop service. Emirates’ flight EK304 will depart Dubai at 9.15am and arrive in Shanghai at 9.05pm, while the return EK303 flight will leave Shanghai at 11pm and arrive in Dubai at 5.20am local time the next day.

Emirates will also return to the Chinese capital Beijing from March 15, 2023 with a daily non-stop service. Operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, Emirates’ flight EK308 will leave Dubai at 10.50am and arrive in Beijing at 10.20pm. The return flight EK307 will depart the capital city at 12.40am and arrive in Dubai at 5am local time.

Emirates currently operates a non-stop flight between Dubai to Guangzhou four times a week. Starting February 1, 2023, the airline will increase its services between the two points with EK362/EK363 operating as daily non-stop flights with the Emirates A380.

The resumption and ramping of services will bring the airline’s operations in the Chinese market up to 21 weekly flights. Customers can book their tickets on the carrier’s website or app, or via travel agents.

Emirates has been serving China for nearly two decades, offering greater connectivity to eight domestic points via Guangzhou, through its codeshare agreement with China Southern Airline.

In November 2022, Emirates president said that the airline is expecting a surge in global travel on a scale beyond anything seen for many years once China fully reopens to overseas flights.

Read: Emirates boss sees unprecedented travel surge once China reopens

“At some point, China will unleash demand for travel the likes of which we will not have seen for a long, long time,” Tim Clark had said in Berlin. “The longer they press the cork down in the water, the greater the velocity of return.”

The Dubai-based carrier also extended its partnership with technology giant Huawei by signing a MoU at the Arabian Travel Market last year. The agreement committed to provide both companies more visibility in the Middle East, China, and African markets through collaborative events and partnerships that will improve audience engagement.

Read: ATM 2022: Emirates extends strategic partnership with Huawei