HAIKOU, July 15 -- A new direct air route was launched Monday between Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province, and Cambodia's port city of Sihanoukville.

The first HU471 flight of Hainan Airlines left Haikou Meilan International Airport at 7:20 p.m. Beijing Time Monday and is scheduled to arrive at Sihanoukville International Airport at 8:20 p.m. local time the same day.

Three round trips are scheduled every week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Sihanoukville boasts Cambodia's best-known beaches. The new air service is expected to promote the economic and cultural exchange between the two cities.

Hainan Province currently has more than 80 international air routes and aims to increase the figure to 100 by 2020.

China plans to build Hainan into an international tourism and consumption center by 2025 and a globally influential tourism and consumption destination by 2035.