Beijing Capital Airlines will begin flying direct between the Mainland and Portugal on July 26, Lusa reports.

The Portuguese news agency quotes the airline as saying it will put on return flights three times a week between Lisbon and the eastern Chinese city Hangzhou, routed via Beijing.

The report says the route will be served by Airbus A330-200 airliners that have a capacity of 475 passengers.

Beijing Capital Airlines is owned by HNA Group of China, which has a stake in Portuguese airline TAP, held indirectly.

About 183,000 Chinese tourists visited Portugal last year, nearly one-fifth more than the year before, and they spent €80 million (US$85.8 million).