Passengers walk out of a Boeing 737-800, the first direct flight between Chongqing and Tokyo on Feb 14. [Photo by Luo Bin/ Chongqing Daily]

Chongqing launched its first direct flight to Tokyo on Feb 14, Chongqing Daily reported.

The direct flight is scheduled on each Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The plane takes off at Chongqing Jiangbei Airport at 3:25 pm and arrives at Tokyo at 8:35 pm. It departs Tokyo at 9:05 am and arrives at Chongqing at 2:25 pm (local times).

Before the direct flight, Chongqing visitors had to transfer in Beijing and Shanghai. Now, it only takes about five hours for visitors to travel from Chongqing to Tokyo.

With the opening of the Chongqing-Tokyo route, direct flights between Chongqing and Japan are available every day.

The direct flight is very popular with local people. Flights tickets up to March 25 have been sold out.