HAIKOU, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- China's Hainan Airlines Tuesday launched a direct flight between Haikou, the capital city of south China's Hainan Province and Sydney.

It was also the first non-stop international route between the island province and Oceania.

The first flight departed from Haikou at 6:50 p.m. Tuesday and will arrive at Sydney at 7:15 a.m. the next day.

The flights will be operated twice weekly by an Airbus A330 aircraft, with 36 seats in business class and 260 in economy class.

Starting flight operations in 1993, Hainan Airlines has launched over 1,400 air routes at home and abroad.