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China Southern Airlines
is to launch a new service, Guangzhou-Beijing-Dubai, starting Thursday, June 17.
The new Boeing 777 service (China Southern flight numbers CZ331/332) will
depart each Tuesday and Thursday from Guangzhou at 18:20, arriving at Beijing
at 21:05, then departing from Beijing at 22:20 and reaching Dubai next day at
03:40 a.m. (local time). With the return flights every Wednesday and Friday,
departing from Dubai at 05:00 a.m. (local time) and arriving at Beijing at 18:00
before reaching Guangzhou at 23:00.
“China Southern Airlines is the only carrier in Mainland China offering service to
the Middle East,” noted Mr. Li Kun, Vice President, China Southern Airlines.
He explained that
the airline launched twice weekly flights on the Beijing-Urumqi-Sharjah route in 1996 and one weekly service between
Beijing-Urumqi-Dubai in 2003. This brand-new Guangzhou-Beijing-Dubai service
will be China Southern's third route to the Middle East, further enhancing the
carrier’s market share in the region.
Dubai International Airport is considered the Middle East’s premier and busiest
airport. In 2003, a total of 18 Million passengers passed through the airport
registering a 13% growth over 2002. The ACI traffic statistics have ranked Dubai
International Airport as one of the fastest growing airport in the world. Dubai is aiming to lift its visitor
numbers from 5 Million a year - currently accounting for 17% of the emirate’s
gross domestic product - to 15 Million by 2010.
With more and more increasing trading exchanges between China, the Middle
East and Africa, there are an increasing number of Chinese businessmen traveling
to the United Arab Emirates. The opening of the ever first China Town in
Dubai in September this year is expected to attract many even more Chinese citizens to travel
to Dubai.
“On this new route, China Southern Airlines will use our luxurious Boeing 777B
aircraft with capable extended range and some cargo transportation capability,
greatly shortening the time for passengers to fly to the Middle East and Africa,”
added Mr. Li. |
