China Southern Airlines opens a new direct flight between Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A China Southern Airlines plane with 213 passengers aboard took off from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and headed for Budapest, Hungary, at 1:02 am on Thursday after a launching ceremony for the new route on Wednesday night.

The flight, CZ649, is expected to land at Budapest's Ferenc Liszt International Airport after 12 hours and 25 minutes in the air.

Han Wensheng, president of China Southern Air Holding Co, said the route is the first direct flight to link the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with Hungary and will strengthen ties between China and the European nation.

The flight will operate four times a week — on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, using a Boeing 787-9 model, Han said at the ceremony which was attended Lin Tao, vice-governor of Guangdong province, and Peter Varfi, head of the Hungarian consulate in Guangzhou.