Xiamen Airlines launches an intercontinental direct flight from Fuzhou, Fujian province to Sydney on Nov 29. 2015. [Photo by Yang Jie/chinadaily.com.cn]

Xiamen Airlines launched an intercontinental direct flight from Fuzhou, Fujian province to Sydney on Nov 29, the first of its kind in Fuzhou.

On Dec 5, a route between Fujian's Xiamen city and Sydney will also open, making Xiamen Airlines the first company in China to open two routes to Sydney within one week.

The new non-stop services to Sydney, using Boeing 787-8 aircraft, will shorten the travel time between Fujian and Australia to nine hours.

Three round-trip flights will be arranged for the Fuzhou-Sydney route every week. The plane will leave Fuzhou at 10:10 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and return from Sydney at 12:00 noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.