CHENGDU, Sept. 16 -- Three new direct flights linking Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, with the northern Indian city Delhi, Finland's capital Helsinki and Chicago in the United States were opened on Monday.

The Chengdu-Delhi air route is operated daily by IndiGo Airlines, India's largest carrier, which has entered the Chinese mainland market for the first time.

The Chengdu-Helsinki air route, two-way flight route, is operated twice each week by Sichuan Airlines on Monday and Friday. This brings Chengdu's total air routes to European destinations to 13, covering 12 countries across the continent.

The Chengdu-Chicago air route, operated by Hainan Airlines, is bound for Chicago from Chengdu on Monday and Friday, flying back on Tuesday and Saturday every week. Chengdu joins Beijing and Shanghai to become the third city from the Chinese mainland to have direct flights to Chicago.

Today, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport operates a total of 349 air routes, including 121 international ones.