Dubai: Emirates on Tuesday said it has renewed its relations with two of the world's fastest-growing economies, India and China, as its inaugural flights to Guangzhou and Kozhikode took off from Dubai International Airport.

Emirates is launching six flights a week each to Guangzhou, China's third major air hub and leading manufacturing centre, and Kozhikode, a key commercial and tourist gateway in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

Guangzhou is Emirates' fourth destination in China and increases the airline's weekly frequency to the country to 48 flights. Kozhikode, Emirates' third gateway in Kerala and its tenth in India, advances the airline's India presence to 125 flights per week - the highest frequency operated by an international carrier serving India.

The airline's top executives, comprising Richard Vaughan, senior vice-president, Commercial Operations East Asia and Australasia; Pradeep Kumar, senior vice-president, Cargo Revenue Optimisation; and Salem Obaidullah, senior vice-president, commercial operations, West Asia, Indian Ocean and Africa flagged off the inaugural flights.

Guangzhou, the economic centre of the Pearl River Delta, has very strong business connections with Europe and Africa. The city's chief export items include electrical goods such as televisions and refrigerators, as well as consumer products.
Vaughan said, "Emirates' sprawling global network, including 22 European and 15 African gateways, will support China's economic and tourism industries. Emirates will assist the Chinese tourism authorities in their drive to attract more tourists and strengthen the trade momentum between China and Africa."

Kozhikode has been frequented by Middle East traders since the seventh century. It is frequented by international visitors attracted by the city's tourist sites and is also the home of millions of Keralites who work and live in the Gulf.