China Eastern Airlines, the country's third-largest carrier, has said it will begin semiweekly fights from Shanghai to Brisbane, Australia on Nov. 21. (File Photo)

    BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- China Eastern Airlines, the country's third-largest carrier, has said it will begin semiweekly fights from Shanghai to Brisbane, Australia on Nov. 21.

    An Airbus A340-300 will be used, said the company. The aircraft will depart Shanghai for Brisbane on Wednesdays and Fridays and return on Thursdays and Saturdays.

    The new service, which makes China Eastern the first Chinese mainland carrier to run direct flights to Brisbane, will operate till February 20 next year when the company will decide whether to carry it on according to market conditions.

    The service will increase China Eastern's flights to Australia to 11 a week.