The carriers Emirates and Air China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic agreement aimed at expanding their existing interline cooperation.

The signing took place on the sidelines of the 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the IATA and the World Air Transport Summit (WATS) held in New Delhi (June 1-3).

The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates, and Yan Fei, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Air China, accompanied by senior executives from both airlines.

Starting July 30, Emirates will operate 49 weekly flights to mainland China, including two daily flights to Beijing and Shanghai, as well as daily services to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou. The ongoing expansion of the carrier in mainland China reflects the strengthening bilateral ties between the United Arab Emirates and the Chinese Republic and underscores the long-standing commitment of the Emirati airline to advancing the objectives of the “Belt and Road” initiative.