XINING, Dec. 5 -- Qinghai, a remote province in northwest China, opened its first regular direct international air route on Friday, linking the provincial capital of Xining with Bangkok, Thailand.

The flight is conducted by the Airbus A320 jet owned by China Eastern Airlines. It will depart from Xining every Friday. A one-way trip takes three hours and 40 minutes, according to the Qinghai Airport Co., Ltd..

Wang Yang, a marketing manager with the company, said the air service will boost travel from the inland region to Southeast Asian countries, especially in the winter when Xining, located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, often sees temperatures reach minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Another international flight will be launched on Dec. 15 between Xining and Seoul, the Republic of Korea.