Emirates unlocks 22 more Chinese cities through Loong Air interline deal
49 weekly flights already link five major mainland hubs
DUBAI – Emirates has signed an interline agreement with Loong Air, widening its reach across mainland China and giving customers access to a broader network of domestic destinations beyond its existing gateways.
The partnership comes into effect immediately and marks another step in the Dubai-based carrier’s long-term strategy in one of its most significant markets.
Under the agreement, Emirates passengers can now connect to 22 additional points across China operated by Loong Air via Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The cities span East, Northeast, South, Central and Southwest China, expanding options for both leisure and corporate travellers.
Expanded access
The interline arrangement enables customers to book multi-airline journeys on a single ticket, with one baggage policy and consistent fare conditions throughout. This simplifies travel planning while ensuring smoother transfers between flights.
The expanded network provides convenient access to key domestic centres including Zhengzhou, Changchun, Haikou, Xiangyang and Dazhou. Tickets are available through the official website, online travel agencies and major global distribution systems used by travel agents. Customers booking via the airline’s website can also use local digital payment platforms such as WeChat Pay and Alipay.
Emirates in China
The agreement forms part of Emirates’ continued expansion in China. The airline, which began operations to the Chinese mainland in 2004, now serves five major cities with 49 weekly flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou. Its fleet on these routes includes the Airbus A380, Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.
Last year, Emirates launched services to Shenzhen and Hangzhou and introduced its Premium Economy cabin on the new routes. It also reinstated the Airbus A380 on flights to Shanghai, strengthening capacity on one of its busiest corridors.
Beyond the Loong Air partnership, Emirates has interline agreements with Air China, China Southern Airlines and Sichuan Airlines. Through its five gateways, the airline now offers access to more than 110 points across China beyond its own network.
Loong Air
Zhejiang Loong Airlines Co., Ltd., known as Loong Air, was founded on April 19, 2011, and began passenger services on December 29, 2013. Headquartered in Hangzhou, the carrier operates branch bases in Xi’an, Chengdu and Guangzhou.
Loong Air launched its first international passenger service on June 28, 2016. Since then, it has introduced multiple cross-border routes, including Hangzhou–Hong Kong and Xi’an-Tashkent, and established interline partnerships with carriers such as Cathay Pacific and Uzbekistan Airways.