More flights from Australia to China announced

A major Chinese airline is set to launch three new direct flights per week between Shanghai in China and Cairns in Australia.

Executives from China Eastern have signed a letter of intent to introduce the weekly flights and Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey have both also put pen to paper over the agreement. The flights are expected to tak off for the first time later this year.

The news will be welcomed by many Australians, for whom China is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination, and Cairns Airport chief executive officer Kevin Brown highlighted the new flights as an exciting development.

"After several years of successfully operating Chinese New Year charter flights to Cairns from Shanghai, it's very exciting that China Eastern is now introducing a scheduled service," he said.

Stuckey said the government's 8 million dollar Attracting Aviation fund contributed to the deal.

China Eastern chief marketing officer Dong Bo said the new flights will improve links between the two countries.

"The new flights will contribute to the development of the local tourism industry and strengthen economic and cultural communications between China and Queensland," Bo added.