Air China DXB (Dubai) to PEK (Beijing)

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Air China operates flights from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), flights started in 2004. As of April 2007, China Air operates 4 flights a week between Dubai and Beijing. Going to Beijing Capital Airport should be a delightful experience since the BCIA slogan is "Harmonious Airport, Dreams start from here".

Air China said in a 19 April 2007 press release that they were looking at starting a second hub in Dubai in preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games in China.

www.airchina.com.cn - English version of Air China website (seems to take forever to load) ... more from wikipedia
en.bcia.com.cn - English version of BCIA website

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Press release or article in Arabian Business 15 April 2007:

Air China looks to Dubai as second hub
by Gemma Greenwood on Sunday, 15 April 2007

Air China has revealed plans to create a second hub in Dubai in order to feed traffic from Asia to the Middle East and through to Africa.

The Beijing-based carrier, which currently operates four flights a week between Dubai and China's capital, hinted that a twin-hub strategy could be enforced as early as 2008, in time for next summer's Olympic Games in Beijing.

"Air China has big plans for this region in terms of making Dubai a huge hub," Atty Kurian, sales manager (Middle East) at Air China, told Arabian Travel News.

"This should happen before next year's summer schedule is announced."

He said Air China would eye routes from Dubai to key Middle East and Africa hubs.

Air China started operating between Dubai and Beijing in 2004. Load factors on the route hit the 60% mark in 2005 and last year averaged 79%, according to Kurian.

"This year we are looking to reach 86%," he added.

Labour traffic and business travellers make up the loads, although the leisure component is growing slowly but steadily, he said.

Kurian also revealed that Air China planned to establish a medical tourism division to harness the interest in traditional Chinese medicine and therapy.