Summary
- Emirates opens new travel store in Hong Kong, with space to showcase its premium economy seats and Emirates merchandise.
- The carrier aims to expand its schedule to China, with talks in progress between the UAE and China for potential growth.
- Emirates operates 21 weekly flights to Hong Kong and is eager to boost its presence in China, with existing strong ties to the market.
Emirates has opened a new travel store in Hong Kong, the first of its kind in the Far East. The carrier sees the region as integral to its future growth and is hopeful about expanding its schedule to China following talks between the UAE and China this week.
Emirates launches new Hong Kong travel store
The Dubai-based airline officially opened the new shop this week amid an expansion of its Emirates Travel Store presence in East Asia and worldwide. The travel shop is situated in Nexxus Building, a prime Central location moments away from the International Finance Center (IFC) building and Central Star Ferry pier.
Photo: Emirates
With around 1,500 sq ft of space, the shop will feature four customer service desks, a range of Emirates merchandise and accessories, on-site travel consultants, as well as self-service stations and interactive screens showcasing Emirates products and offers.
Photo: Emirates
Perhaps best of all, inside the store will be a “limited-time” Emirates premium economy seat display, the perfect place to sample the airline’s award-winning premium economy product, or at least get a good selfie.
Photo: Emirates
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The opening ceremony was attended by Shaikh Saoud Al Mualla, UAE Consul General, Sultan Alriyami, Emirates Area Manager for Hong Kong, and led by Orhan Abbas, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations in the Far East. Abbas commented,
“We are delighted to inaugurate the first Emirates travel store in the Far East region, in Hong Kong, to deliver an enhanced and exceptional service to our valued customers. The city has always been strategically important for us.”
As per data from Cirium, Emirates currently operates 21 weekly flights to Hong Kong, amounting to over 19,400 weekly seats. The airline also recently reopened its Emirates Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport following a significant revamp and expanded its Chauffeur service in Hong Kong to business class customers.
China expansion progress
Emirates is eager to boost its presence in China and has been working steadily towards this goal. In May, Emirates and the China Cultural Centre in the UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the airline’s services to China, a move it also made with Hong Kong’s tourism board.
Photo: Omar F Martinez | Shutterstock
Talks between the UAE and China began on Tuesday and will continue today. Emirates is presently authorized to operate up to 35 weekly flights to China, which doesn’t include the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. This year, the carrier marked two decades of service to China following its inaugural flight to Shanghai in 2004.
Abbas said in an interview,
“China is one of our largest markets. If allowed the opportunity we would love to expand.”
The Middle Eastern carrier operates double-daily flights to Beijing and Shanghai, along with a daily flight to Guangzhou, with almost 25,000 weekly seats on its Boeing 777s going both ways. Emirates passengers going to China also benefit from the airline’s partnership with China Southern Airlines, opening up connections to 24 domestic destinations upon arrival.
Have you ever visited an Emirates Travel Store? Let us know how you found the experience in the comments section!
