A major prefecture-level city in Shandong, Qingdao opened a direct air route to Sydney on Oct 29. It is the first direct air link between Shandong and the Australian city.

The Sydney route is Qingdao’s second direct air link to Australia, following the one to Melbourne which opened last year.

The 12-hour direct service is operated by Beijing-based Capital Airlines, offering convenience to travelers from Qingdao and the rest of Shandong.

A wide-body Airbus A330 with dual-aisle serves the route. It departs Qingdao four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

A direct route to London was launched on Nov 17, following the Sydney route. The city also plans to open a direct service to Los Angeles on Dec 11, by which time Qingdao will have eight intercontinental services, counting in the previously launched routes to Frankfurt, San Francisco, Vancouver, Moscow, and Melbourne.