Sichuan Airlines opens Chengdu-Melbourne route

CHENGDU, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Sichuan Airlines, a Chinese regional airline, opened a non-stop route between Chengdu of southwest China's Sichuan Province and Melbourne, Australia, early Thursday morning.

The maiden flight departed Chengdu at 00:30 a.m. local time and is expected to arrive in Melbourne at 2:30 p.m. local time, according to the airline.

The new route operates every Monday, Thursday and Saturday from Chengdu, a regional business hub in southwest China.

It is the first direct route linking Australia's second-largest city with southwest China.

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