Guangzhou-based airline company China Southern Airlines launched its maiden flight from Yiwu in East China's Zhejiang province to Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on Dec 3.

This marked the establishment of the first-ever direct air passenger route between the two cities.

Among the 84 passengers aboard the maiden flight was Ms Su, who was born and raised in Ningxia but has been engaged in a foreign trade business in Yiwu for the past eight years. She took the flight at Yiwu Airport to return to her hometown for a family reunion.

"Previously I had to first go to Hangzhou to take an airplane at Hangzhou International Airport. The direct flight from Yiwu brings me much more convenience, and the plane ticket price for it is quite affordable," Su said.

The new air route has four flights scheduled on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, as well as on Wednesday and Sunday mornings. The flight duration is around three hours.

Yiwu and Ningxia have special ties in talent mobility, as both of them are the Chinese regions that most frequently interact with Arab countries and hence receive a large number of Arabic translators and speakers. The launch of the direct flight route is expected to further promote economic and trade exchanges between Yiwu and Ningxia.

The crew members of the maiden flight from Yiwu to Yinchuan pose for a picture at Yiwu Airport. [Photo/zgyww.cn]