CHANGSHA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- A new regular air route opened Wednesday between Zhangjiajie, an acclaimed tourist destination in central China's Hunan Province, and Hong Kong.

The twice-a-week service is operated by Hong Kong low-cost carrier HK Express using an A320 aircraft with a total capacity of 180 seats.

Between Oct. 18 and 29, the flight will leave Hong Kong at noon and arrive in Zhangjiajie at 2:05 p.m. Beijing time on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It departs Zhangjiajie at 3:05 p.m. and arrives in Hong Kong at 5:05 p.m. Beijing time.

From Oct. 29 to late March 2018, it will adopt a winter schedule, with flights departing Hong Kong at 1:55 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, and arriving in Zhangjiajie at 4:05 p.m. and 4:20 p.m. respectively.

The return flight will leave Zhangjiajie at 5:55 p.m. on Thursdays and 5:20 p.m. on Sundays, and arrive in Hong Kong at 8:15 p.m. and 7:25 p.m. respectively.

HK Express, established in 2013, now flies to 29 cities in Asia. The new route is expected to boost economic and tourism development and exchanges between the two cities.