China Southern Airlines will soon open a new air route linking Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, to Russia's Siberian city of Irkutsk.

The flight, via Manzhouli in northeast China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, will start operation as of August 29, serving each Monday and Friday from the two opposite destinations, according to Zhao Fengsheng, deputy director of the northern branch of the airlines.

Passengers are scheduled to be aboard a MD90 aircraft during the Shenyang-Manzhouli-Irkutsk trial flights, said Zhao.

The new air route will help promote bilateral trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries, Zhao said.

The northern branch of the airlines has so far opened 45 air routes including 10 international and regional ones.

Source: Xinhua