KUNMING, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Ruili Airlines in southwest China's Yunnan Province launched a direct air route linking Yunnan's Xishuangbanna and Chiang Mai in Thailand.

The flight, operated by a B-737 aircraft, was inaugurated on Wednesday, according to the Ruili Airlines based in Kunming, provincial capital of Yunnan.

Departures are scheduled at 5:30 p.m. from Xishuangbanna on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with the return at 8 p.m. local time on the same day from Chiang Mai, according to the airlines.