Etihad to boost UAE’s China connection
ABU DHABI – Business opportunities between the UAE and China will be boosted from March 30 when Etihad begins its four-flights-per-week service to the Chinese capital from the UAE’s capital, offering a total passenger capacity of more than 2,000 seats every week.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: ‘China and the UAE are both experiencing massive economic expansion.
“There is a huge appetite from business and leisure travellers for flights to Beijing, especially ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games later this year, and our forward bookings are already ahead of our expectations.”
The UAE is home to nearly 200,000 Chinese and more than 2,000 Chinese companies.
The volume of trade between the UAE and China reached US$20.4bn in 2007, almost double the previous year’s figure.
The UAE is now China’s second largest trade partner in the Gulf region and the largest market for Chinese exports.
The value of Chinese exports to the UAE increased by 50 percent in 2007 to US$17bn.
The number of annual Chinese visitors to the UAE currently stands at 200,000 but is set to increase significantly, following the signing of a recent memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
The agreement, signed by the UAE Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his official visit to China in April 2007, aims to help schedule Chinese tourist group visits.
Beijing will be Etihad’s eighth destination in its rapidly expanding flight network in the Asia-Pacific region that already includes services to Brisbane, Sydney, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok.
Etihad’s flights to Beijing will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with EY888 departing from Abu Dhabi at 11.45pm and arriving in the Chinese capital at 11.30am the next day.
Return flight EY889 departs from Beijing every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7.10pm arriving in Abu Dhabi at 00.20am the next day.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists