Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines will launch direct flights to Dubai next month.

Commencing on 26 October 2014, the new point-to-point service will operate twice a week. Flights will depart Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport every Wednesday and Sunday at 1400, arriving at Dubai International Airport at 1915. The return leg will then leave the UAE city at 2045, getting back into Shanghai at 0920 the next day.

 China Eastern will operate the route using its 298-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft offering 38 seats in business class and 260 in economy.

 The launch of direct flights follows a recent increase in the frequency of its existing route connecting Shanghai with Dubai via Kunming, the capital of southwest China’s Yunnan province. Effective last month, this route now operates three times a week, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, also using an A330-300. So in total China Eastern now operates five weekly flights to Dubai.

 The new direct route however, will see China Eastern compete directly with Emirates, which will operate twice daily Dubai-Shanghai flights from 26 October, including one using its double-decker Airbus A380 aircraft.