China's Beijing Capital Airlines has begun to launch flights connecting the coastal city of Qingdao in Shandong province with Melbourne in Australia. [dzwww.com]

China's Beijing Capital Airlines has begun to launch flights connecting the coastal city of Qingdao in Shandong province with Melbourne in Australia.

An Airbus A330 will fly the route three times a week.

For the maiden flight an Airbus A330, carrying 211 passengers, took off from Qingdao International Airport on Sept 29 and arrived in Melbourne 11.5 hours later.

Outbound flights will depart from Qingdao on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and return flights will depart Melbourne on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.