ETIHAD Airways will launch flights from Abu Dhabi to Beijing on March 30.

It will be the airline's first China route, and its eighth in the Asia-Pacific.

Its flights will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with EY888 departing from Abu Dhabi at 22.45 and arriving in the Chinese capital at 11.30 the next day. Return flight EY889 departs Beijing every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 19.10 arriving in Abu Dhabi at 00.20 the next day.

Etihad will operate a two class Airbus A330-200 configured to carry 262 passengers with 22 in business class and 240 in economy class.