XI'AN, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The first direct flight connecting Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Vienna, Austria, took off in the early hours of Monday, marking the inauguration of the first direct air service from northwest China to Austria.

An Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft, operating as China Eastern Airlines flight MU5063, departed from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport at 1:52 a.m. local time. This route will be operated three times per week.

With this addition, China Eastern Airlines now operates 16 international routes from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, connecting the city to 14 destinations worldwide.

Austrian citizens holding ordinary passports are exempt from visa requirements for single-entry stays in China of up to 30 days. This unilateral visa exemption policy for Austria is valid until Dec. 31, 2026. ■