China Eastern Airlines has commenced a new three-times-weekly non-stop service between Dublin and Shanghai, establishing Ireland's first direct air connection to China's largest city and Dublin Airport's longest-ever scheduled non-stop route.

According to Ireland's Travel Trade Network, the inaugural inbound flight MU231 landed at Dublin Airport shortly after 07:30, with the first outbound service MU232 departing for Shanghai at approximately 11:30. The route is operated using China Eastern's Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

Nick Cole, deputy chief executive of daa, the operator of Dublin Airport, said the route represented a significant addition to the airport's long-haul network. "China is an increasingly important market for tourism, business, education and trade, and this new service will create new opportunities for travellers in both directions while making it easier than ever for visitors from China to experience everything Ireland has to offer," he said.

Wang Zhiqing, chairman of China Eastern Airlines, described the launch as marking a new air corridor between China and Ireland. "It signifies a new, convenient, and efficient air corridor between China and Ireland. Aviation connects cities, carries friendship, and promotes cooperation," he said, adding that the airline was committed to working more closely with Irish partners across all sectors.

The new service provides onward connections across China and the Asia-Pacific region through China Eastern's hub at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, one of Asia's busiest international gateways. The route is expected to support growth in tourism, trade, inward investment and education links between Ireland and China.

China Eastern Airlines is one of China's three major international carriers and a member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance. Headquartered in Shanghai, the airline operates an extensive global network spanning Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America, South America and the Middle East.

The launch of the Dublin-Shanghai service marks a significant development for Irish aviation connectivity, opening a direct transatlantic-length route to one of the world's most commercially significant city pairs and positioning Dublin Airport as a direct gateway between Ireland and the Chinese market for the first time in the airport's history.