A direct air route was launched Monday to link the city of Guiyang in China's Guizhou province, with Milan in Italy, after a plane left Guiyang and landed in Milan in the same day after a 12-hour flight.

The air route, operated by Italy's Neos Air with a Boeing 767-300, is the first regular direct flight between the two cities. It is the second direct flight linking Guiyang with Europe after a flight between Guiyang and Moscow opened in June 2018, according to Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport.

There will be only one flight each week, with the departing flight in Guiyang on Sunday.

The new air route is expected to boost tourism and economic communication between the two cities.