Emirates Airlines yesterday announced that it is to expand its services to mainland China with four weekly flights to Yinchuan (INC) and Zhengzhou (CGO) using a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, starting from 3rd May, 2016.

The services will offer new international connectivity for two of China's fastest growing cities, and expand Emirates' destination offering on the mainland to five, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia, lies to the west of the Yellow River and to the east of Mount Helan. With a large Muslim population, it serves as a gateway connecting China to Arabic countries and is positioned as a hub for economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchange between China and the Middle East.

Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province and a major transportation interchange for central China, is an educational, technological and economic centre. The second largest city in central China, Zhengzhou's strategic location has enabled the city to become one of the largest economic hubs in China.

"With the opening of these new strategic routes, Emirates looks forward to contributing to the enhancement of China's trade links with the rest of the world, in particular with the UAE and Arab world. We believe the new international air links that we are launching will help create tourism and trade opportunities for Chinese business and leisure travellers that may not otherwise exist," said H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

"With our established network across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Emirates is a ready-made connector of people and trade, and we look forward to further developing aviation links with China in a mutually beneficial way," he added.

Emirates' new services will connect Yinchuan and Zhengzhou with many new destinations via a convenient connection in Dubai, and help boost trade and tourism flows to the growing central and western parts of China where these cities are located