JINAN, May 20 -- A direct flight has opened between Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, and Milan.

The flight is operated by Milan-based NEOS Airlines. The Boeing 767-300 aircraft will fly between the two cities every Friday with a travel time between 11 and 12 hours.

The flight is the first direct air route from Jinan to Europe, also the second intercontinental air route to operate at Jinan airport.