Fast-growing Gulf airline Emirates launched a daily flight between Dubai and Beijing on September 1. The new service, being operated by a three-class Airbus A340, provides good connections with Emirates' existing services to and from Europe.
The eastbound flight departs Dubai at 1015 to reach Beijing at 2200. It returns from the mainland Chinese capital at 0005 arriving in Dubai at 0505.
Emirates is offering first and business class passengers complimentary deluxe hotel accommodation in Beijing to launch the new route. The deal is valid for stays at the Shangri-La hotel from now until November 30. It includes two free nights for first class and one free night for business class passengers. Full details are posted on Emirates' website.
Next April sees the launch of SAS' first ever direct flight between Stockholm and Beijing. The Scandinavian airline already services Beijing from its operational hub at Copenhagen, Denmark but next year it will also fly four times a week from the Swedish capital.
Says Lars Lindgren, president of SAS International, "Since our existing direct routes to Shanghai and Beijing are highly appreciated we see great potential in the Stockholm to Beijing service."
SAS will operate with Airbus A340s configured for business, premium economy and regular economy. Flights will operate overnight from Stockholm with a daytime return from Beijing. Exact timings are not yet available but they are expected to provide good connections with other cities in Scandinavia and Europe.
For more information go to emirates.com, flysas.com.
Report by Alex McWhirter
