Etihad Airways plans to increase its flights between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai from February 2023.
The Middle Eastern carrier will add a second weekly frequency on the route to China’s main commercial hub, with the extra flight will be served by Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft.
Etihad also flies weekly to Beijing and twice per week to Guangzhou - a route which the airline launched in October 2022. The extra Shanghai service, which is subject to regulatory approval, will take the carrier’s services to China up to five flights per week from February.
The expansion in Etihad’s services comes as China prepares to reopen its borders to international travellers and drop its quarantine regime from 8 January.
Martin Drew, senior vice president of global sales and cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Etihad Airways is delighted to add a second weekly passenger service to Shanghai following the further relaxation of Covid-related travel measures.
“China is a market of primary importance to Etihad, and as one of the country's largest financial and economic centres, Shanghai plays a crucial role in our network.”