The first scheduled Airbus A380 service landed in Shanghai recently, when Emirates flight EK302 from Dubai arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Shanghai has became the third destination in China for Emirates' A380, following on from the launch of services to Beijing and Hong Kong in 2010.

Richard Jewsbury — Emirates' senior vice president, commercial operations, Far East and Australasia — commented that this was was made possible through the support and hard work of a number of dedicated organizations and individuals, particularly the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the Shanghai Airport Authority.

He added that the number "8" is considered the most fortuitous number in Chinese culture. Now in their eighth year of passenger operations to Shanghai, Jewsbury said they were moving to the next phase of a strong and valued partnership with the city of Shanghai and Greater China with the launch of the Airbus A380 service.

Emirates' A380 will operate three days a week — on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays — as EK302 departing Dubai at 03:10 and arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 15:30, local time. The return flight EK303 departs Shanghai at 23:30 local time and arrives in Dubai at 04:30 the following day.

Currently Emirates operates twice-daily services to each of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and daily services to Guangzhou. EK302 and EK303 will be operated using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.