KUNMING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- A direct air route was launched Monday to link Xishuangbanna in southwest China's Yunnan Province with Siem Reap in Cambodia.

The Xishuangbanna Airport said this was the fourth international air route of the airport.

Operated by Cambodia's JC International Airlines, the first flight, with 179 passengers on board, departed Siem Reap at 9:30 a.m. local time on Monday and arrived in Xishuangbanna at 12:30 p.m. The return flight took off at 1:40 p.m. and arrived in Siem Reap at 2:40 p.m. local time.

The flight is to be operated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Flights on Wednesday and Friday are scheduled to take off from Siem Reap at 7:00 a.m. local time and the return flights depart from Xishuangbanna at 11:00 a.m.

The launch of the new air route is expected to help boost economic, trade and tourism cooperation between the two countries.