Etihad Airways has transported 5 million passengers to and from China since the launch of its first flights to Beijing 11 years ago, a report said.

The growing number of Chinese tourists visiting the UAE exceeds one million visitors per year, and 3.5 million passengers transit through the UAE on their way to other destinations, said a report in WAM.

Etihad Airways is working on expanding into the Chinese market, in light of the strong ties between the UAE and China, with the number of flights from Abu Dhabi to China currently at 28 per week.
 
The company added that the decision by the two countries to exempt their citizens from requiring pre-entry visas, as well as their efforts to promote tourism and investment, have reinforced the UAE’s position as a preferred business and entertainment destination for Chinese investors and tourists, the report said.

Etihad Airways began operating the new generation 787 Dreamliner aircraft to Chengdu and Shanghai, and its 267-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft were replaced by the 297-seat Boeing 787 aircraft on the Abu Dhabi to Chengdu route, a 14 per cent increase in seat capacity.

On the Abu Dhabi to Shanghai route, the airline’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft were replaced by the larger Boeing 787-10, which accommodates 336 passengers, a 12 per cent increase in seat capacity, the report said.