EMIRATES has officially launched a direct flight route between Shenzhen and Dubai, marking the airline’s first international flight from the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

The flights will operate daily and use the new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The inbound flight departs from the Dubai International Airport at 10:05 a.m. and arrives at the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport at 10 p.m. The return flight leaves Shenzhen at 11:55 p.m. and arrives in Dubai at 3:40 a.m. the following day.

The route will offer eight private suites in first class, 40 business class seats, 24 premium economy seats, and 260 economy class seats.

Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, now offers 42 weekly flights to four key cities on the Chinese mainland — Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

The Shenzhen airport now offers 11 weekly flights between Shenzhen and Dubai.

In the first half of this year, the Shenzhen airport expanded its international network by launching or increasing flights on over 10 routes, including to Vientiane (Laos), Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Tokyo (Japan), Jeju (South Korea), and Mexico City (Mexico).

In the second half of the year, the airport plans to introduce new routes to Malé (Maldives) and Siem Reap (Cambodia), as well as increase flight frequencies to other international destinations, including Phnom Penh (Cambodia).                                          (Chen Siqi)