HOHHOT, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- A direct flight between Baotou in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Ulan Bator, Mongolia, began this week.
Mongolia's Hunnu Air will operate the service, the first direct air route between the two cities, with a Fokker-50 aircraft. The maiden flight was on Wednesday. The trip takes about three hours each way.
Starting Aug. 11, return flights will leave every Thursday and Sunday, said Jia Xingyu, an official with Baotou Airport.
The National Office of Port Administration in June approved the exit and entry of domestic and foreign temporary passenger charter flights at Baotou Airport, effective from July 1 through the end of 2016.
International flights will help Inner Mongolia to integrate its development with the "Belt and Road" initiative through further opening up, said the official.
The airport also plans to open air services to Russia, the Republic of Korea, Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.
