HONG KONG - Cathay Pacific announced on Friday that it will launch a new route connecting south China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Urumqi, capital of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, with flights starting on April 28.

During a celebration event for the route's launch, Cathay Pacific highlighted that the direct flights from Hong Kong to Urumqi will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, using Airbus A330 aircraft.

Addressing the occasion, Cathay Group CEO Ronald Lam said Xinjiang boasts stunning natural scenery and that Urumqi is a key city under the Individual Visit Scheme for Chinese mainland travelers to Hong Kong and Macao. The new route is expected to strengthen connections between Hong Kong and Urumqi, making travel more convenient.

ALSO READ: Cathay Pacific records 19.8% increase in passengers in March

Additionally, with the upcoming launch of new destinations in Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang province, and Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, next month, the total number of Cathay Pacific's passenger destinations in the Chinese mainland will reach 22, said Lam.

Mable Chan, secretary for Transport and Logistics of the HKSAR government, said that Xinjiang is a pivotal place under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and a core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

She expressed optimism that the new route will not only enhance tourism exchanges between the two regions, but also create a new freight corridor to bring Xinjiang's rich products to Hong Kong.