FUZHOU, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- A direct air route was launched on Friday between Fuzhou, capital of eastern China's Fujian Province, and Mandalay, the second-largest city of Myanmar.

It is the first regular air route that connects Fuzhou with Myanmar.

Operated by Taimei Air using a Myanmar Airways International Airbus 319 aircraft, the route is scheduled to depart Mandalay at 4:35 p.m. local time every Monday and Wednesday and arrive in Fuzhou at 9:35 p.m. Beijing time, then leave Fuzhou at 10:35 p.m. and arrive in Mandalay the next day at 12:50 a.m. local time.

Another round-trip is scheduled on every Friday, with the inbound flight leaving Mandalay at 6:15 p.m. local time and arriving in Fuzhou at 11:15 p.m. The outbound flight takes off at 12:15 a.m. the next day and lands in Mandalay in two hours and 15 minutes.

Fuzhou airport has so far opened more than 20 international routes linking Paris, Bangkok, Sihanouk, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and other Belt and Road cities.