TIANJIN, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- A new direct air route between north China's Tianjin Municipality and Thailand's Bangkok has opened, bringing the weekly number of flights from Tianjin to Thailand to 37.

The new route is served by an Airbus A330 with 392 seats. It operates every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday via Thai Lion Air. Another air route from Tianjin to Phuket will be launched soon by the same airline.

Thai Lion Mentari Co. Ltd, traded as Thai Lion Air, is the first new foreign airline to serve Tianjin Binhai International Airport in 2018. The carrier operates mainly from Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport.