Sichuan Airlines has announced it will expand its international network next month, with the launch of its first ever flights to the Middle East. From 4 September the airline will operate twice weekly flights from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China’s Sichuan province, to Dubai.

The twice weekly flights utilising A330 aircraft will depart Chengdu’s Shuangliu International Airport twice weekly and will stop in Yinchuan, the capital of northwest China’s Ningxia region.

The airline launched its first long-haul overseas route in June 2012 with flights from its Chengdu hub to Vancouver while its second added Chengdu to Melbourne in February 2013 with three weekly services. The carrier operates a fleet of 97 A319/320/321 and eight A330-200/300 aircraft.