CHENGDU, May 16 -- A new air route will be launched to link Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan Province and Los Angeles, China Eastern Airlines has announced.

The new route will be opened in June 30, the airlines said.

It will offer three round trips per week between the two cities via Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, according to the airlines.

The travel time will be cut to around 16 or 17 hours, it said.

Last year, United Airlines launched a non-stop service between Chengdu and San Francisco.

The new air route is expected to further boost tourism and economic cooperation between west China and the U.S.