The new air route linking eastern China's Xiamen and Rangoon, capital city of  Myanmar, completes its maiden flight on June 22. [Photo/cri.cn]

A new air route linking southeast China's coastal city of Xiamen and Rangoon, capital city of Myanmar, was launched on June 22, ending the nagging absence of a direct flight between Fujian province and the largest city in Myanmar.

The Xiamen-Rangoon flight service, operated by Xiamen Airlines, takes off Tuesdays and Saturdays for two round-trip flights. It departs Xiamen at 2:30 pm and arrives in Rangoon at 4:50 pm local time.

The return flight takes off at 5:50 pm local time and lands in Xiamen at 11:05 pm, said a Xiamen Airlines official.

The new flight service is expected to promote economic and personnel exchanges between the two destinations and provide more convenient services for tourists from Myanmar to travel to all the provinces in China as well as travel through Northeast Asia, Europe and North America.

Happy passengers taking the first Xiamen-Rangoon flight arrive in Rangoon on June 22. [Photo/cri.cn]