With China gradually reopening, Emirates is preparing to make its move in expanding its services to the country.
Routes from Dubai to Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing will be restored as the country reopens its borders and eases its COVID-related entry restrictions.
Shanghai
Just in time for the New Year holiday, Shanghai will resume on the 20th of January 2023 with twice weekly service, gradually increasing to daily service from the 1st of March 2023.
The planned operation will vary based on the timetables below
EK302 DEPART DXB 03:45 ARRIVE PVG 15:40 EK303 DEPART DXB 17:40 ARRIVE BKK 21:45 DEPART 23:20 ARRIVE DXB 03:20+1 From 20th January to 1st February - Operates with Airbus A380 twice a week (14F/76J/426Y) From 2nd February to 28th February - Operates with Boeing 777-300ER four times a week (8F/43J/304Y)
From 1st March 2023
EK304 DEPART DXB 09:15 ARRIVE PVG 21:05 EK303 DEPART PVG 23:00 ARRIVE DXB 05:20+1 Operates Daily from 1st March
Guangzhou
Dubai to Guangzhou currently operates a four-times-a-week service as EK362/EK363. This will be scaled up to a daily service from 1st February 2023 as follows:
EK362 DEPART DXB 10:45 ARRIVE CAN 21:45 EK363 DEPART CAN 00:15 ARRIVE DXB 05:15 Upgrades to Daily Service from 1st February 2023 Booked Equipment: Airbus A380 (14F/76J/426Y)
Beijing
Bejing will return to the Emirates network on the 15th of March 2023, with a daily service.
EK308 DEPART DXB 10:50 ARRIVE PEK 22:20 EK307 DEPART PEK 00:40 ARRIVE DXB 05:00 Commences 15th March 2023 Booked Equipment: Three-Class Boeing 777-300ER (8F/43J/304Y) Operates Daily.
Restoring frequencies slowly
By the beginning of March, the uplifts will increase Emirates’ capacity to 21 flights a week connecting China back to its Dubai hub, allowing onward connections to the rest of the network, with timings meeting the morning departure wave out of Dubai.
Whilst nowhere near the pre-pandemic frequencies – it is a start for the airline, which will eye this important market carefully as it seeks to restore passenger flows.
Remember, first routes, then frequencies – and frequencies will be high on the agenda when passengers can flow more freely. We’ll have to see how things play out – but with the Chinese market reopening, you can bet that every airline is considering its strategy very carefully in the region.
Emirates has served China for over twenty years, with interline agreements with Air China, China Eastern and Cathay Pacific. The airline also has a more in-depth partnership with China Southern Airlines.
While China may have dropped some entry requirements, Emirates’ advises its passengers to check the latest entry requirements to the country, in particular, testing requirements as well as allowed visas.
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