2018 FIFA World Cup countdown clock is seen at the Manezhnaya Square in Moscow, Russia on March 6, 2018. [Photo/VCG]

HOHHOT - A new flight linking Hohhot, capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, with Russia's capital Moscow was launched Sunday.

It is the first direct flight linking the region and a European city.

An Airbus 330, with 207 passengers onboard, departed from Baita International Airport at around 11 am, and will arrive at Sheremetyevo International Airport at around 2 pm local time. The journey takes around eight hours.

The return flight will take off from Moscow at 4:20 pm local time on the same day and arrive in Hohhot Monday morning.

The flight, which can carry 252 passengers, is operated every Sunday by Tianjin Airlines.

"I had to transfer flights in Beijing's airport to Moscow, but now I can take a direct flight just in my city, which can save me a lot of time," said Yao Qiang, a resident of Hohhot.

Baita International Airport has launched international flights with several Asian countries, including Mongolia, Thailand and Vietnam. It plans to open new air routes to Singapore, Nepal and Myanmar, and resume air routes with Japan and the Republic of Korea.