China Xiamen Airlines is expected to announce once-a-week nonstop flights between Los Angeles International Airport and the northern Chinese port city of Qingdao in December, according to knowledgeable sources.

The announcement is expected from representatives of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board and counterparts from the Qingdao Tourism Committee during a press conference following the opening ceremonies of the World Tourism Cities Federation summit this afternoon. The international travel and hospitality industry convention will run through tomorrow at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown hotel in the Wilshire Grand.

China Xiamen is based in the city of Xiamen in the central coastal region of the country and operates as a unit of state-owned China Southern Airlines. Xiamen already operates regular nonstop service between LAX and its hometown, among other markets, with three weekly flights on Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

It becomes one of three China-based airlines with plans to launch new routes in December, when Air China is scheduled to start four weekly flights between LAX and Shenzhen; Hong Kong Airlines Ltd. plans to begin flights to Hong Kong.