Emirates Expands Network in Mainland China - 阿联酋航空宣布计划开通郑州－银川－迪拜航线， 拓展中国大陆市场

A Boeing 777-200LR belonging to Emirates Airline: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

​On December 14, Emirates announced that it will expand its services in mainland China with four weekly flights to Yinchuan (INC) and Zhengzhou (CGO) utilising a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, starting from 3rd May 2016. These services will offer new international connectivity for two of China’s fastest growing cities, and expand Emirates’ destination offering on the mainland to five, including: Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
 
Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia, lies to the West of the Yellow River and to the East of Helan Mountain. With a large Muslim population, it serves as a gateway connecting China to Arabic countries, and is positioned as a hub for economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchange between China and the Middle East.
 
Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province and a major transportation interchange for central China, is an educational, technological and economic centre. The second largest city in central China, Zhengzhou’s strategic location has enabled the city to become one of the largest economic hubs in China.
 
“With the opening of these new strategic routes, Emirates looks forward to contributing to the enhancement of China’s trade links with the rest of the world, in particular with the UAE and Arab world. We believe the new international air links that we are launching will help create tourism and trade opportunities for Chinese business and leisure travellers that may not otherwise exist,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group. 
  
“With our established network across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Emirates is a ready-made connector of people and trade, and we look forward to further developing aviation links with China in a mutually beneficial way.”
 
Emirates’ new services will connect Yinchuan and Zhengzhou with many new destinations via a convenient connection in Dubai, and help boost trade and tourism flows to the growing central and western parts of China where these cities are located.
 
Emirates flights to Yinchuan and Zhengzhou will depart on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from Dubai as EK326 at 02:45hrs arriving at Yinchuan Hedong International Airport at 13:35hrs. The service will then depart from Yinchuan at 15:20hrs and arrive at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport at 17:00hrs. The return flight, EK327, will depart Zhengzhou at 21:10hrs, arriving at Yinchuan at 22:55hrs. It will then depart Yinchuan at 00:40hrs, arriving in Dubai at 04:30hrs the next day*.
 
Timings of the new service have been scheduled to allow for seamless connections to many Middle East, European and African destinations.
 
The services will be operated by a three class configured Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, offering 266 seats and 14 tonnes of cargo capacity in the bellyhold.
 
Popular commodities expected to be transported on these services include electronics, such as mobile phones from Zhengzhou, and agricultural products such as goji berries and cashmere from Yinchuan. 
 
Supporting China’s “Belt and Road Initiative”
 
As China looks to connect with the world through the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, Dubai is well-positioned to support China in achieving the mutual benefits that will come from this Initiative, including deeper levels of co-operation and exchange.

Located at the crossroads of East and West, Dubai is the largest import-export hub in the Middle East, connecting the world through its strong governance, extensive trade networks and global connectivity links.
 
Ties between Dubai and China continue to grow stronger. A growing number of Chinese banks and businesses are establishing branches within Dubai’s business and financial districts and the city is now home to over 3,000 Chinese companies and 200,000 Chinese residents. Growth in visitor numbers to Dubai from China grew by 25% in 2014.

Emirates has been a large part of this growth story, being the first airline to establish non-stop connectivity between the Middle East and mainland China, first with freighter operations to Shanghai starting in 2002, followed by passenger services in 2004. Currently serving 54 cities in 30 of the 65 countries identified as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, Emirates is uniquely positioned to support China in advancing its trade and investment links with these countries. 
  
“As China's regions continue to open up to the global economy, Emirates remains keen to support this with the further expansion of air services in mainland China. In particular we’re interested in exploring the opportunity of daily services to Hangzhou and Chongqing, and a second daily service to Guangzhou,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
Passengers travelling on Emirates’ Boeing 777-200LR will be able to enjoy the airline’s award-winning ice entertainment system with up to 2,000 channels of on-demand entertainment to choose from, including Mandarin language movies and music.
 
Emirates flights to and from China also cater to the needs of the Chinese market with Mandarin-speaking cabin crew on board, and inflight cuisine options with popular Chinese dishes. As with all Emirates flights, passengers travelling on the Yinchuan and Zhengzhou services will enjoy the generous Emirates baggage allowance of 30kg in Economy Class, 40 kg in Business Class and 50 kg in First Class. 
  
*Flight times are as per summer schedule


阿联酋航空宣布计划开通郑州－银川－迪拜航线， 拓展中国大陆市场

——阿联酋航空 （以下简称“阿航”）今日宣布，从2016年5月3日起，将开通郑州（CGO）飞往迪拜经停银川（INC）的新航线，每周四班，由波音777-200LR客机执飞，此举将进一步拓展阿航在中国大陆市场的业务。新航线将帮助这两个发展迅速的中国城市构建新的国际化桥梁。此外，加上北京、上海和广州三地，阿航在中国大陆的目的地数量将扩大至五个。

阿航的新航线将成为连接郑州与迪拜的第一条直飞航线，同时为来自郑州和银川以及周边地区的乘客提供更快速、便捷的出境方式选择，他们可经由迪拜中转，去往中东、非洲及欧洲地区的目的地，例如罗马、巴黎、伦敦等热门城市。同时，该航线的开通也将促进两个城市所在的中国中西部地区的跨境贸易及旅游业的发展。

今年，银川和郑州两个城市的出境人数都有显著的增长。宁夏出入境检验检疫局数据显示，从今年1月到11月，出境人数达到了48774人次，同比增加46.2％。根据郑州边防检查站的数据显示，截至今年10月，郑州出境人数超过了55万，比去年同期增长了38.1%。

阿联酋航空公司及集团主席兼首席执行官阿姆德·本·萨伊德·阿尔马克托姆殿下(His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum)表示：“通过开通这些具有战略性意义的新航线，阿航希望为促进中国与其他地区的贸易往来做出更大贡献，特别是阿联酋和阿拉伯世界。我们相信，新的国际航线将帮助中国的商务旅客创造全新的贸易机会，并为休闲旅客提供无与伦比的旅行体验。”

“凭借在整个非洲、欧洲和中东地区的发达航线网络，阿航已成为连接世界各地旅客和贸易往来的一个重要桥梁。我们期待以互惠互利的方式进一步推动与中国在航空事业方面的合作，”他补充说。
从郑州出发至迪拜经停银川的航班代码为EK327，将在每周二、周三、周五和周六晚上于21:10从郑州出发，22:55到达银川。随后在次日凌晨00:40离开银川，当地时间04:30抵达迪拜。返程航班的航班代码为EK326，将于凌晨02:45从迪拜起飞，当地时间13:35抵达银川河东机场。随后15:20从银川起飞，17:00到达郑州新郑国际机场*。

新航线的航班时刻安排旨在让乘客在迪拜转机飞往中东、欧洲和非洲的众多目的地的过程中实现无缝连接。

航班将由三舱配置的波音777-200LR客机执飞，可提供266个座位和14吨的腹舱货运能力。
预计航班将运送的热门商品包括电子产品（如郑州生产的手机）和农产品（如银川的枸杞和羊绒）等。

阿航响应中国的“一带一路”国家战略

中国正寻求通过“一带一路”战略加强与世界的联系，在此之际，迪拜所拥有的地理位置优势可支持中国实现由该战略带来的共同利益，例如更深层次的合作和交流等。

迪拜位于东、西方交汇的十字路口，是中东地区最大的进出口贸易中心。迪拜凭借其良好的政府管理、广泛的贸易网络和强大的通达全球实力，将全世界连接到了一起。

迪拜和中国的友好合作关系正不断发展壮大。越来越多来自中国的银行和企业在迪拜的商业和金融区内建立分支机构；这个城市现已拥有逾3000家中国公司和20万中国公民。到访迪拜的中国游客数量在2014年增长了25％。

在这个发展趋势中，阿航一直扮演着重要的角色。阿航是第一家在中东和中国大陆之间开通直飞航班的航空公司，2002年首先开通始发上海的货运业务，并于2004年开通连接该市的客运服务。目前，在“一带一路”战略覆盖的65个国家中，阿航在其中30个国家的54个城市开展客运和货运业务。在支持中国推进与这些国家的贸易和投资往来方面，阿航拥有得天独厚的优势。

阿姆德·本·萨伊德·阿尔马克托姆殿下表示：“随着中国各地区陆续向全球开放，阿航将进一步拓展在中国大陆市场的业务。具体而言，我们正寻求开通杭州和重庆两地每日航班的机会，以及在广州再添一班每日航班的机会。”

在搭乘阿航波音777-200LR航班之时，乘客将可享受阿航屡获殊荣的ice机上宽频娱乐系统，欣赏多达2000个频道的精彩娱乐内容，其中包括普通话版本的电影和音乐。
​
为了迎合中国市场的需求，阿航在往返中国的阿航航班上配置了会讲普通话的乘务员，并提供广受欢迎的中国美食。和所有的阿航航班一样，往返银川、郑州的乘客将享受到阿航的免费行李重量数额优惠，其中经济舱为30公斤，商务舱为40公斤，头等舱为50公斤。 

*航班时间遵照夏季航班时刻安排