THE Department of Civil Aviation Dubai, recently welcomed the inaugural Air China flight CA 941 from Beijing to Dubai International Airport.
The airline returns to the UAE after a 13-year gap, making it to Dubai for the first time.
Said Mohammad Ahli, director, operations, DCA, who received the delegation on board the flight, “The Department of Civil Aviation welcomes Air China to Dubai. We look forward to forging a new relationship and bringing in new business partners.”
HE Yang Weiguo, Consul General of China in Dubai, commented: “We have 65,000 Chinese living in Dubai. The UAE and China have very good relations in terms of trade. This is a very good step towards further improving our business and tourism. In the year 2003, total trade conducted between the two countries amounted to $5.8 billion. This is expected to go up to $8 billion in 2004 and $10 billion by 2005. When China Town in Dubai opens, it will be the largest distribution market of Chinese products outside of China.”
Li Hu Xiao, senior vice-president of Air China, said the opening of China Town on December 6, 2004, would increase the number of Chinese living in Dubai to go up to 120,000. Air China will be operating Boeing 767-200 thrice weekly to Dubai on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. It has a total fleet strength of 147 aircraft. In the year 2003 it carried six million passengers.