BEIJING, March 19 -- Air China announced on Thursday that an air route linking Beijing and Budapest, capital of Hungary, will be launched on May 1.

The Chinese flag carrier will fly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from Beijing to Budapest via Minsk, capital of Belarus. The return flight will be direct.

Hainan Airlines suspended its Beijing-Budapest service in 2012, marking the end of Chinese air links to Central and Eastern Europe.

Since opening its doors to Chinese tourists in 2003, Hungary has developed into a favored destination.

Nearly 90,000 Chinese travelers visited the country last year, an increase of 20 percent.