YANGON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's Sichuan Airlines has launched a new direct flight between Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province and Myanmar's Yangon since Tuesday, a release from the Yangon Aerodrome Company, an operating company of Yangon International Airport (YIA), said on Wednesday.

It became the second route of the airline between Yangon and China following the launch of direct route between Yangon and Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province last month.

The airline will run three rounds a week with A320 aircraft of a capacity for 180 passengers.

The link aims to attract more visitors from China as well as to boost tourism between commercial city Yangon and Hangzhou, the release said.

Sichuan Airlines, the 31st international airline to connect to YIA, had also launched direct route between Myanmar's Mandalay and Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province in February this year.

At present, the authorities are accelerating efforts for the further expansion of travel routes as well as to promote the country's tourism industry by inviting more airlines across the globe landing at YIA.