HOHHOT, May 28  -- A regular direct air route connecting Taiwan and Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, opened on Wednesday, said its operator Far Eastern Air Transport.

The 3.5 hour direct flight is the first between Taiwan and Innner Mongolia, said Dennis Tsai, deputy chief representative on the Chinese mainland of the Taiwan airline.

The MD-82 aircraft departs each Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. from Taichung City and arrives at Hohhot at 4:35. The return flight leaves Hohhot at 6 p.m. and arrives at Taichung at 9:30 p.m. the same day.

The service will increase to twice per week in early August.

It is expected to boost tourism and economic ties between Taiwan and Inner Mongolia, which are booming, said Tsai.