Etihad Airways plans to increase its flights between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai from February 2023.
The Middle Eastern carrier will add a second weekly frequency on the route to China¡¯s main commercial hub, with the extra flight will be served by Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft.
Etihad also flies weekly to Beijing and twice per week to Guangzhou - a route which the airline launched in October 2022. The extra Shanghai service, which is subject to regulatory approval, will take the carrier¡¯s services to China up to five flights per week from February.
The expansion in Etihad¡¯s services comes as China prepares to reopen its borders to international travellers and drop its quarantine regime from 8 January.
Martin Drew, senior vice president of global sales and cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, said: ¡°Etihad Airways is delighted to add a second weekly passenger service to Shanghai following the further relaxation of Covid-related travel measures.
¡°China is a market of primary importance to Etihad, and as one of the country's largest financial and economic centres, Shanghai plays a crucial role in our network.¡±