Juneyao Air will launch a twice-weekly service between Dublin and Shanghai on March 29, 2020.
It follows the Chinese carrier’s announcement that three-times weekly flights between Manchester and Shanghai will begin on the same date.
Meanwhile Icelandic media reports Juneyao will begin flights between Keflavik Airport and Shanghai.
All the routes will operate via Helsinki, where Shanghai-based Juneyao started flying in June, codesharing with Finnair.
Dublin flights will depart at 1000 on Sundays and Thursdays, landing in Shanghai at 0630 the following day. The return will depart Shanghai at 0055 and land in Dublin at 0845.
It will be operated by one of Juneyao’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with 295 seats in economy and 29 seats in business.
These are Juneyao Airlines’ new Dreamliner business class seats
Dublin Airport said it would “enhance the growing trade, tourism and investment links between Ireland and China.”
It will mean more potential guests for Dublin’s recently-opened East Lounge, which the airport calls a “dedicated lounge for Business and First Class passengers travelling eastwards.”
Ireland is currently without a direct link to Asia after Cathay Pacific suspended its Hong Kong-Dublin route and Hainan Airlines cancelled services to Beijing and Shenzhen.
Cathay Pacific has said it will bring the route back on March 29.
Finnair has boosted frequency between Dublin and Helsinki to nine weekly services this winter.
Privately-owned Juneyao will also launch nonstop Shanghai-Athens flights next June.
It had applied for permission to begin nonstop Shanghai London flights, but this was rejected.
However it has fifth freedom rights for the new routes, meaning that it can sell tickets for travel to and from Dublin/Manchester and Helsinki.
Juneyao is a Star Alliance Connecting Partner, which allows Star Alliance frequent flyer members to earn and spend miles with it.
