An Airbus A320 airplane of Lao Airlines takes off at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Zhejiang province on Aug 1. [Photo/zj.gov.cn]

A regular new air route was launched between Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, and Vientiane, capital of Laos, on July 31, local media reported.

Operated by Lao Airlines, the direct flight commutes between Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport and Vientiane Wattay International Airport with round-trip flights scheduled every Thursday and Wednesday, using an Airbus A320 aircraft.

The outbound flight leaves Hangzhou at 0:05 am Beijing time on Thursday and arrives in Vientiane at 2:20 am local time. The return flight departs Vientiane at 6:40 pm local time and arrives in Hangzhou at 11:05 pm Beijing time.

The direct route will expand Hangzhou's airline network to Southeast Asia and provide more convenience for tourists in surrounding areas, including Nanjing and Suzhou.

Topping the list of 53 must-visit destinations by the New York Times in 2008, Laos is popular due to its rich Southeast Asian culture.