Emirates Adds Four New Cities to Global Network
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Emirates will expand its long-haul network to four new cities in 2025, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading international carrier for long-haul capacity. The new destinations—Da Nang (DAD), Siem Reap (REP), Shenzhen (SZX), and Hangzhou (HGH)—mark strategic growth into Southeast Asia and China as Emirates continues to leverage the strength of its Dubai (DXB) hub for global connectivity.
New Emirates Routes Launching
According to schedule filings submitted to Cirium Diio and aircraft data from ch-aviation, Emirates is set to operate passenger flights to 143 destinations this year. The following cities are entirely new to the airline’s global network:
| Start Date | Route (From Dubai) | Frequency & Aircraft | Routing | Existing Middle East Service? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2 | Da Nang (DAD) | 4x weekly, Boeing 777-300ER | Via Bangkok (BKK) – Fifth Freedom | No |
| June 3 | Siem Reap (REP) | 3x weekly, Boeing 777-300ER | Via Bangkok (BKK) – Fifth Freedom | No |
| July 1 | Shenzhen (SZX) | Daily, Boeing 777-300ER | Nonstop | Yes – Served by China Southern (codeshare with Emirates) |
| July 30 | Hangzhou (HGH) | Daily, Boeing 777-300ER | Nonstop | Yes – Served by Air China |
Da Nang and Siem Reap will be served as fifth freedom flights via Bangkok, highlighting a tourism- and VFR-driven strategy for Southeast Asia. Emirates will become the first Middle Eastern airline to serve either city, operating its high-capacity 421-seat Boeing 777-300ERs with a tri-class configuration.
Strategic Growth in Mainland China
The new Chinese routes were made possible following an expanded bilateral agreement between the UAE and China, signed in late 2023. Emirates was awarded 14 additional weekly frequencies, which it has fully utilized with the launch of:
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7x weekly to Shenzhen (SZX)
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7x weekly to Hangzhou (HGH)
These join existing service to:
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Beijing Capital (PEK): 14x weekly
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Shanghai Pudong (PVG): 14x weekly
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Guangzhou (CAN): 7x weekly
Combined, Emirates now operates its maximum 49 weekly flights to mainland China.
Market Rationale: Tourism, Trade, and Freight
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Siem Reap (REP) is Cambodia’s cultural gateway, particularly to Angkor Wat, and will become Emirates’ least-served city in terms of frequency.
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Da Nang (DAD), Emirates’ third Vietnamese city after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, is positioned for both tourism and diaspora traffic.
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Shenzhen and Hangzhou are major Tier 1 and Tier 2 Chinese cities with growing point-to-point demand to the Middle East and strong outbound traffic potential.
In 2023:
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Shenzhen–Dubai saw ~70,000 annual P2P passengers
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Hangzhou–Dubai recorded ~81,000 annual P2P passengers
These services will not only target passengers but will also support high-volume belly cargo, an Emirates specialty, especially with the 777-300ER’s freight capacity.
Fleet Considerations and Capacity Outlook
All four new routes will be operated with three-class Boeing 777-300ERs, as Emirates’ new Airbus A350-900 fleet is still in early deployment. While the daily 777-300ER launch to Shenzhen and Hangzhou may seem ambitious, Emirates appears confident in market potential and its ability to stimulate demand through its global connections.
The A350s—of which Emirates has 4 currently active (out of a planned 65 total on order)—could eventually be deployed on thinner long-haul routes as deliveries ramp up.
Bottom Line
Emirates will launch four new routes in 2024—Da Nang, Siem Reap, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou—expanding its global network to 143 cities. The airline continues to optimize its Dubai hub for international connectivity, pairing high-demand leisure markets with strategic economic centers in China. With full allocation of its newly granted Chinese frequencies and additional fifth freedom flights in Southeast Asia, Emirates is reinforcing its role as a key player in global air transport across both passenger and cargo sectors.
