China Eastern Airlines (CEA) will launch a direct flight between Xi'an and Seoul on July 3.

CEA's aircraft are parked at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. [Photo/Xi'an news network]

An Airbus A320 will operate the route on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Outbound flight MU853 departs at 2:50 pm and arrives at Seoul Incheon International Airport at 6:40 pm local time. Return flight MU854 takes off from Seoul at 7:40 pm local time and lands in Xi'an at 10 pm.

Passengers taking CEA flights from major western cities, including Urumqi, Lhasa, and Yulin, can transfer via Xi'an to Seoul on the same day, as can travelers arriving on the airline's flights from Milan, Vienna, and Istanbul, which are also linked to this new route.

As a popular short-haul overseas destination, Seoul sees robust demand for travel, business trips, and study tours. In conjunction with the current visa-free policy for inbound visitors, the route will also attract more visitors from South Korea and other Northeast Asian regions to transfer via Xi'an, further boosting cultural exchanges and economic cooperation.