Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news

With foreign airlines gearing up for the upcoming tours for Chinese people to travel to Europe, the number of scheduled flights from Shanghai to Europe has soared recently, the Shanghai Morning Post reported today.

Plus the flights from Shanghai to Dubai to be launched as of April 10, the number of scheduled flights from Shanghai to Europe and the Middle East region has reached 10.

There are two itineraries for the European tour: one is the north itinerary to Finland via Russia and the other is the south itinerary via Dubai, with the south itinerary costing four hours longer but cheaper than the north one.

The International Airline of United Arab Emirates announced in Shanghai yesterday to kick off three scheduled flights a week from Shanghai to Dubai as of April 10. "Although Shanghai has frequent business contacts with Dubai currently, we are expecting more tours to Europe to support our business," said Xian Guoqiang, manager with the Shanghai branch of the International Airlines of UAE.

It will take about two hours from Dubai to Paris, London and Rome.

"We can take the south itinerary to organize tours to Europe due to cheaper prices," said a spokesman with a local travel agency.

European airlines operating the north itinerary are also trying to raise the number of scheduled flights to lower air ticket prices.