Mar. 4, 2010 (China Knowledge) - Air China Ltd<601111><0753>, the nation's flagship carrier, on Feb. 27 began offering flights from the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, to Bangalore, India, sources reported.

Air China operates two weekly flights on the new route, including a non-stop one, using Boeing 757 aircraft.

The opening of the new air route is expected to help increase the contacts between the two cities and further boost the economic and technological corporation between Western China and India.

Last May, Air China signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the Chengdu municipal government and Sichuan Province Airport Group Co Ltd. Air China agreed to make Chengdu its second major hub in China after Beijing.

The air carrier said it planned to add more aircraft in Chengdu and increase the number of flights to domestic and overseas cities.