A plane operating on the Huangshan-Jiande-Zhoushan short-haul airline takes off from Qiandaohu General Aviation Airport in Jiande, a county-level city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and heads for Putuoshan Airport in Zhoushan, on Dec 31. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

A short-haul airline connecting Huangshan in Anhui province and Jiande and Zhoushan in Zhejiang province was recently launched. The airline's first two planes departed from Qiandaohu General Aviation Airport in Jiande, a county-level city of Hangzhou, heading for Putuoshan Airport in Zhoushan and Tunxi International Airport in Huangshan on Dec 31.

The airline is the first short-haul airline connecting the two eastern Chinese provinces.

It will not only save time for travellers, but will also promote cross-regional cultural and tourism exchange as it passes by many famous scenic spots in the three cities, according to local authorities.

The airline currently offers three flights per week. Special discounts are offered in January. The trip from Jiande to Huangshan will cost only 99 yuan ($14.22) and take 50 minutes while the flight from Jiande to Zhoushan will cost 199 yuan and take 90 minutes.

Jiande Aviation Town has introduced many large-scale aviation projects in recent years, as well as several science innovation platforms such as the nation’s first key provincial-level general aviation (GA) lab. It is expected to be built into a national demonstration zone for the GA industry and an international tourist destination.

Jiande authorities also plan to launch a short-haul airline to Jinshan district in Shanghai in the first half of 2020 and strengthen cooperation with tourist agencies to promote the inter-connectivity of major scenic spots throughout the province.