QINGDAO, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Direct air services will be launched to link China's coastal city of Qingdao in Shandong Province, with Paris in France as well as Dubai in the UAE this month, said the operator on Saturday.

Operated by China Eastern Airlines with an Airbus aircraft, the outbound flight is scheduled to depart Qingdao every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and arrive in Paris from June 19, each taking about 12 hours. The return flight will take off on the same day local time.

Three round trips are scheduled between Qingdao and Dubai each week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday respectively from June 29, each taking about 10 hours.

Qingdao has opened eight intercontinental direct air routes that link the city with Frankfurt, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Melbourne, Vancouver, Moscow, Sydney and London.