CHENGDU — A direct air route linking China's southwestern city of Chengdu with New York has been launched, Hainan Airlines announced Thursday.

Two round-trip flights every week, coded HU7915/7916, will be operated by Hainan Airlines, with each flight taking 15 hours.

The flights will depart Chengdu on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and the return flights will leave New York on Wednesdays and Sundays.

The air route is the third direct route linking Chengdu with a US city.