Emirates has officially launched its new daily service to Hangzhou, marking its fifth gateway in the Chinese mainland and the second new destination added in under a month, following Shenzhen.

Flight EK310 landed at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport on July 30.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, noted that China has become one of the world's leading aviation markets, and Emirates is proud to have played a role in its development.

"Adding two new gateways within just one month is a major milestone that underscores our deepening commitment to the Chinese mainland. This expansion also demonstrates the strong momentum our East and Southeast Asia growth strategy has gained over the past year. With rising demand, we're optimistic our global network will continue connecting people, businesses, and economies across Asia and beyond."

Better cargo solutions

The new service is operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft, offering up to 16 tonnes of bellyhold cargo capacity per flight.

Emirates said this will enable the efficient transport of time-sensitive shipments such as e-commerce goods, pharmaceuticals, smart devices, and other high-value products.

As one of the world's largest hubs for cross-border e-commerce, Hangzhou boasts a complete digital trade ecosystem and advanced logistics infrastructure, serving as a key international gateway for many Chinese brands.

"With Emirates SkyCargo's expansive network spanning six continents and high-speed connectivity through its Dubai hub, goods from Hangzhou and the broader Yangtze River Delta can reach emerging markets in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Latin America faster, reducing delivery timelines and enhancing supply chain performance," the carrier said in the announcement.

Emirates now operates 49 weekly flights to five major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou. 

"With the addition of Hangzhou to its growing Chinese mainland network, Emirates is building a powerful air corridor for trade, tourism, and digital exchanges between China and the Middle East, as well as beyond. The new route will further open new opportunities for Chinese brands to reach a global audience while offering customers from across Emirates’ global network better access to this powerful tech hub."