momiHOHHOT, Sept. 12 -- A new direct flight, operated by Air China, linking Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region with Mongolia's capital Ulan Bator, was opened on Thursday, the Hohhot Office of Air China said.

The maiden flight left Hohhot Baita International Airport at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday.

The direct flight will be operated twice a week on Thursday and Sunday with a Boeing 737-800 which can accommodate 157 passengers. The flight is scheduled to take off from Hohhot at 9:30 a.m. Beijing Time and from Ulan Bator at 12:30 p.m. local time. Each trip is estimated to take one hour and 50 minutes.

The new route will not only provide a new travel option for travelers from the two countries but also promote the bilateral trade and cultural exchange, as well as strengthen tourism cooperation between China and Mongolia, according to Cao Wei, general manager of the Hohhot Office of Air China.