Air Busan to launch flight linking Busan to Sanya, China in Dec.

Air Busan, a low budget airline under South Korea's No. 2 flag carrier Asiana Airlines Inc., said Monday it will launch a route to Sanya on China's southernmost island of Hainan from South Korea's southeast port city of Busan, starting Dec. 7.

The South Korean airline plans to operate four round-trip services per week that depart at 10:05 p.m. from Gimhae airport near Busan on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. From Sanya airport, the four-hour flights depart at 3:05 a.m. on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

The launch of the route aims to capture tourism demand by South Korean travelers visiting sightseeing spots on the Chinese island, known as the Hawaii of the East, Air Busan said.

The new route increases the number of domestic and international flights to 26 comprising four domestic ones and 22 international ones. (Yonhap)