WUHAN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A new direct air route linking central China with Southeast Asia was launched on Sunday, with the inaugural flight departing from Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, to Jakarta. The route marks the first direct connection between the two cities.

Flight MF8683, carrying more than 150 passengers, took off from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport at 4:40 p.m. and headed to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in the Indonesian city.

The route is operated by a Boeing 737-800 Max aircraft and operates four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

According to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, the launch filled a gap in direct passenger capacity between Wuhan and Indonesia's core city, further expanding the central Chinese city's network of routes to Southeast Asia.■