Xiamen Airlines began flying from Fuzhou to Sydney on Sunday, its first non-stop intercontinental route from Fuzhou.

The carrier also plans to open another international route from Xiamen to Sydney on Dec 5.

Both the routes will use Boeing787 Dreamliner aircraft and only take nine hours from China to Sydney.

The routes to Sydney connect Fujian province to Australia and build up a bridge to home for the Chinese in Australia, said Chen Shanglun, chairman and general manager of Xiamen Airlines.

Over 500,000 Chinese from the city of Fuzhou live in Australia and the passenger volume of Fuzhou Changle International Airport will exceed 10 million person-trips for the first time this year.

Xiamen Airlines running six Boeing787 Dreamliners will put efforts on international market in the next few years.

The carrier will put all its 787 fleet on international routes and launch new routes to Melbourne, Vancouver and New York in the next year.