XI'AN, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- A new direct flight was launched on Wednesday linking Xi'an, the capital city of Shaanxi Province in the northwest of China, and Dubai.

It is the first direct air route that connects the city with the Middle East, said the operator of the flight, China Eastern Airlines.

The flight will depart from Xi'an Xianyang Airport at 9:55 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and land in Dubai at 2:20 a.m. the next day local time. It will fly back from Dubai at 4:20 a.m. local time and arrive at Xi'an at 4:24 p.m.

China Eastern Airlines has launched international air routes linking Xi'an with Madrid, Sydney, Prague, St Petersburg and Nagoya. The city currently has 15 international flights. Enditem