517-Seater A380 To Begin Nonstop Dubai-Beijing Service In August#
This August, Emirates will begin Airbus A380 service between Dubai and Beijing, following successful deployment of this aircraft between Dubai and New Zealand, Thailand and Korea. The 517-seater A380 -- the largest commercial aircraft in the world -- will service the growing number of businesspeople traveling between China and Dubai, as well as serving as a link for the increasing commerce between China and Africa, with the Middle East as a midpoint.
Additionally, with Dubai hoping for more Chinese tourists -- which Jing Daily reported earlier this year -- we can expect to see a significant number of tourists packed in alongside the businesspeople later this year.
According to Emirates Airlines president Tim Clark, the airline's new A380 service is an important step in boosting efficiency and capacity in the Dubai-Beijing corridor, but it's just a starting point. From a release:
"Trade between Dubai and China is on a steady rise, recording an average annual growth of 36 percent. Also, the UAE is expecting a surge in incoming Chinese leisure groups after the Chinese government granted it 'Approved Destination Status' last year.
"Although our A380 will support the growing demand for air travel to and from China through capacity enhancements of almost 50 percent, it will not be sufficient. We believe China's blazing economic growth justifies a further expansion in aviation links in the near future," said Clark.