Emirates presents new Shanghai route to passenger and cargo agents

Emirates' new non-stop service between Dubai and Shanghai is the first direct passenger air link between the two cities. It provides business and leisure travellers with fast, convenient access to two of the world's fastest growing markets.

This was highlighted during an official presentation on Emirates' services to Shanghai by Paul Fleri Soler, Emirates' district manager in Malta. The presentation was held in collaboration with the China Cultural Centre in Malta at their state-of-the-art theatre in Valletta.

Hosted by Emirates and held under the patronage of Liu Zheng Xiu, ambassador of the People's Republic of China, the presentation was attended by over 60 passenger and cargo agents in Malta and Gozo as well as guests from the Chinese Embassy and its Economic and Commercial office.

"Dubai enjoys a superb geographical location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and Asia," Mr Fleri Soler said. "Via Dubai, Emirates passengers from Shanghai will be able to connect easily to Emirates' destinations throughout Europe, including Malta, the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent."

Emirates' new passenger services to Shanghai, served by Airbus A340-300, with a cargo capacity of 13 tons, will further facilitate China's trade with the rest of the world, including Malta. Supplementing the existing four weekly B747-400 freighter services to the city, the new service now flies daily. This means that Emirates SkyCargo is offering 11 flights per week with a capacity of more than 570 tons.

Emirates freighters currently carry IT hardware components, such as hard disks, silicon chips and printers, electronic office equipment, such as photocopiers, fabrics, as well as engineering spares and components.

Finished products are quickly transported to Emirates' network, which includes China's main trading partners, namely the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Singapore.

Xiaowei Xiang, director of the Chinese Cultural Centre, expressed his satisfaction at the start of Emirates' non-stop flights from Shanghai to Dubai and beyond. He briefly highlighted China's rich cultural heritage and Shanghai's attractions.

"Emirates connects with Shanghai by air and serves as a bridge between Malta, Dubai and Shanghai," he said. "Likewise, the China Cultural Centre in Malta also serves as a bridge between Malta and Shanghai through cultural and trade relations."

Shanghai, the largest city in China, is fast becoming a popular tourist destination. It is not only a huge, growing international commercial centre, but also a hive of arts and cultural activities, making it an attractive destination for both business and leisure travellers.

A video presentation displaying the beauty and exciting vitality of Shanghai was shown, followed by a video presentation on the Emirates Keep Discovering campaign on China and its superior inflight services on the new Airbus A340-500.

Since May, the new Emirates' direct link has operated daily. Flight EK302 takes off from Dubai International Airport at 2.15 a.m. and lands at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport at 2.55 p.m. The return flight EK303 from Shanghai departs on the same day at 11.55 p.m. and arrives in Dubai at 5.10 a.m. All times are UAE.

Emirates operates three direct flights each week from Dubai to Malta, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays on an Airbus A330-200.