XI'AN, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- A fifth-freedom passenger air route was launched on Tuesday linking Russia's Ekaterinburg, Xi'an in northwest China and Phuket in Thailand, according to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport.

It is the first air route of its kind in Shaanxi Province. Operated by Russia's Ural Airlines, the new flight is expected to fly four times a week.

A fifth-freedom flight is one where an airline company from one country or region, when running an international service, gets permission to make a stopover in a third country and take on passengers and cargos.

The opening of the route will raise the proportion of international transfer passengers, thus make Xi'an airport a key hub for international transport and help promote the city's further opening-up, the airport said.

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport has opened 16 new international air routes since the beginning of 2019, linking Manado, Dubai, Lisbon, Tashkent and other cities.

Three direct air routes are expected to be opened by the end of December, connecting Xi'an with Istanbul, Budapest and Nursultan, the airport said.