The Nantong Xingdong International Airport announced that it will introduce new flights to Macao on Dec 19.

According to airport staff, the flight will be operated by Shenzhen Donghai Airlines every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. The flight number is DZ6327/28 and the aircraft will be a Boeing 738.

On Tuesday and Sunday, the flight will depart from Nantong at 14:55 and arrive in Macao at 17:30. The return flight will leave Macao at 18:55 and reach Nantong at 21:45.

On Thursday, it will depart from Nantong at 13:40 and the return flight will leave Macao at 17:15. Travel time will be about two and a half hours.

The airlines will offer discounted tickets in December, going as low as 400 yuan ($56.88).

Officials said the new flights are expected to promote more economic and cultural exchange between Nantong and Macao.

Trade between the two cities was valued at $670,000 in 2018, with textiles and machinery equipment making up the bulk of goods, and there are currently more than 200 Nantong merchants doing business in Macao in fields such as catering, food, real estate, construction, sci-tech, and labor. The city has also sent delegates to attend the Macao International Culture and Fine Art Exhibition for the past four years.

At a promotional conference for Nantong culture and tourism held in September, the two cities signed a cooperation agreement to work together to promote tourism.