A new air route linking Qingdao, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province, and France's Paris was launched on June 19. It is the first direct flight to France from Qingdao.

The Qingdao-Paris flight service, flight MU797, is operated by China Eastern Airlines with an Airbus A330 every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It is scheduled to depart Qingdao at 11:55 and arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport at 18:05.

The return flight, MU798, will take off at 20:05 and land in Qingdao at 12:55 the next day, said a source with Qingdao Liuting International Airport.

Another air route linking the city with Dubai will also be launched on June 29. It is the first direct flight linking Shandong province with the United Arab Emirates.

Flight MU 793 is operated by China Eastern Airlines with an Airbus A330 every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. It will depart at 14:05, arriving at 19:55 in Dubai.

The return flight, MU794, takes off from Dubai International Airport at 23:00, and arrives back in Qingdao at 11:40 the next morning.¡@

The new flight services are expected to provide a better travel experience for tourists from Qingdao to France and the United Arab Emirates, said the airport source.

A launch ceremony was held on June 19 at Qingdao Liuting International Airport to celebrate the new routes.

Officials from the CAAC Qingdao regional administration and the Qingdao air traffic management station, as well as representatives from the Qingdao Airport Group and China Eastern Airlines attended the ceremony.

Olivier Baleix, a representative from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of France in China, delivered a speech at the ceremony.

He said that this direct Qingdao to Paris line perfectly meets the expectations of many sides, as well as the growing demand of tourists between the famous destination France and the beautiful city of Qingdao, which is becoming more and more popular with French people now.

In Shandong, there are more than 130 French-owned and French-managed economic entities, including more than 80 in Qingdao.

A launch ceremony is held on June 19 at Qingdao Liuting International Airport to celebrate the opening of new routes to Paris and Dubai. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Fight crew members from China Eastern Airlines and Air France take part in the ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Officials and airline representatives announce the opening of the two new air routes. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]