Direct flight links Harbin, Singapore

A direct air route linking the city of Harbin with Singapore was launched Friday, according to Harbin Airport.

The first direct flight from Singapore landed at 8:50 a.m. Friday at Harbin Airport, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The new flight shortened the previous 10-hour-plus travel time to just seven hours. Previously, passengers had to transit in either Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou.

The flight is operated by Singapore's Scoot Airline.