Emirates Airline of the United Arab Emirates is to launch a new passenger route between Dubai and Shanghai. Emirates Airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is to launch a new passenger route between Dubai and Shanghai in April.

Richard Vaughn, Emirates' senior vice president, disclosed that the new non-stop flights to the largest Chinese city will be the first-ever direct air passage between Dubai and the Chinese mainland.

From April 10th, Emirates will operate three flights a week between the two cities, and daily flights will start from May 15th.

Emirates currently flies to 74 cities in 52 countries. It is the first time that there has been a direct passenger link between the two cities. Emirates Sky Cargo flights to Shanghai started in 2002, and to Dalian last year.

(Poeple's Daily March 16, 2004)