Emirates grows Chinese mainland network

Emirates has officially launched its new daily service to Hangzhou, marking its fifth gateway in the Chinese mainland and the second new destination added in under a month, following Shenzhen. The inaugural flight carried passengers from across Emirates’ global network, including key markets like the UAE, Nigeria, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia and Brazil, as well as a VIP delegation led by Emirates’ senior management, and members of the international media. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, commented on the launch: “China has become one of the world’s leading aviation markets, and Emirates is proud to have played a role in its development. Adding two new gateways within just one month is a major milestone that underscores our deepening commitment to the Chinese mainland. This expansion also demonstrates the strong momentum our East and Southeast Asia growth strategy has gained over the past year. With rising demand, we’re optimistic our global network will continue connecting people, businesses, and economies across Asia and beyond. Emirates remains committed to delivering seamless, reliable connectivity between this dynamic region and the world. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, and all our local partners for their invaluable support in enabling the successful start of this route.” Operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, flight EK310 departs Dubai at 0940hrs and arrives in Hangzhou at 2200hrs. The return flight, EK311, departs Hangzhou at 0010hrs, landing in Dubai at 04:55hrs. The Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft offers up to 16 tonnes of bellyhold cargo capacity per flight, enabling the efficient transport of time-sensitive shipments such as e-commerce goods, pharmaceuticals, smart devices, and other high-value products. Emirates now operates 49 weekly flights to five major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou. The airline has also introduced its signature complimentary chauffeur-drive service for First and Business Class passengers in Hangzhou, extending its luxury offering to over 70 global cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, London, Paris, Dubai, and Milan. Eligible passengers can now enjoy exclusive, complimentary transfers within an 80-kilometre radius of Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, served by Mercedes-Benz E-Class vehicles. With the addition of Hangzhou to its growing Chinese mainland network, Emirates is building a powerful air corridor for trade, tourism, and digital exchanges between China and the Middle East, as well as beyond. The new route will further open new opportunities for Chinese brands to reach global audience while offering customers from across Emirates’ global network better access to this powerful tech hub. On the Dubai–Hangzhou route, Emirates operates a Boeing 777-300ER, featuring 8 First Class suites, 42 Business Class seats, and 304 Economy Class seats. Passengers can enjoy Emirates’ award-winning ice entertainment system, offering over 6,500 channels in more than 40 languages, including Chinese. The onboard experience is rounded off with regionally inspired menus incorporating a variety of popular Chinese dishes and desserts. AirAsia X connects pax from Tashkent to 130 destinations via KL AirAsia X (AAX) announced its upcoming entry into Uzbekistan with the launch of a new direct route between Tashkent and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Scheduled to commence on 15 October 2025 with three flights weekly, the new service forms part of AAX’s broader strategy to connect emerging Central Asian markets to its extensive network of over 130 destinations through its Fly-Thru hub in Kuala Lumpur. The announcement comes at a pivotal time as Uzbekistan targets 15.8 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025. The new connection is expected to boost two-way traffic, bringing more travellers from Southeast Asia into Uzbekistan while offering Uzbeks greater access to destinations across Asia, Australia, and beyond. Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X, said: “Our mission has always been to make medium-haul travel more accessible and affordable, and we are excited to extend this offering to travellers from Uzbekistan with our entry into Tashkent. The strong performance of our Almaty route has reaffirmed the potential of Central Asia, prompting us to grow further in the region. Through Kuala Lumpur, guests from Tashkent can now connect to over 130 destinations, including top cities in Southeast Asia, China, Australia, and more. Similarly, we are already seeing encouraging forward bookings for the Tashkent route, with strong demand from Malaysia, China, Indonesia, and Singapore, showing clear interest from travellers across the region. This new route also reflects the growing ties between Malaysia and Uzbekistan, as both countries deepen cooperation in trade, education, Islamic tourism, and cultural exchange. While supporting Uzbekistan’s tourism goals, this route also supports broader national initiatives, including Visit Malaysia Year 2026, which aims to attract more travellers from Central Asia.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]