Dubai-based airline Emirates seeks to expand network to 4 more cities in mainland China
- President says carrier ready to provide flights ‘immediately’ but waiting for Beijing to give it green light
Dubai-based airline Emirates has set its sights on expanding its network to four more cities in mainland China, part of a growing number of Middle Eastern carriers wanting to cash in on aviation opportunities by increasing flights to the country.
Emirates chief Tim Clark told the Post in Dubai earlier this month that the company hoped to extend its reach into the mainland but was waiting for Beijing to give it the go-ahead. He was speaking on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of airline trade body the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
“We’d like to go to lots of destinations in China, but it’s up to the Chinese government,” he said, adding that there were four new cities Emirates could “go to immediately” and that the central government was aware of the company’s ambitions.
With a global network spanning more than 140 destinations across six continents, the carrier at present operates three daily flights between Dubai and Hong Kong – two direct services and one via Bangkok – with 35 weekly flights to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. It also has six regional points via Guangzhou through its partnership with China Southern Airlines.
The company also offers routes to other destinations on the mainland through its interline agreements with Air China, China Eastern and Cathay Pacific.
In May, the carrier reported record profits of US$4.7 billion for the financial year up to March 31. This was up 63 per cent from US$2.9 billion the previous year. It attributed the growth to strong demand for travel across customer segments and low fuel costs.
