Baotou Airport -- in Baotou city, in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region -- on Aug 1 resumed direct flights to Wuhan in Central China's Hubei province, according to a report in the Baotou Daily.

The direct flight, operated by Air China with an Airbus 320, is flying once a day.

Airport officials said the Baotou-Wuhan direct flight is an important tourist and business route from Baotou city to the hinterland of Central China -- and it is also an important integrated transportation hub connecting local destinations and foreign cities.

On Jan 23, due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Baotou-Wuhan direct flight was suspended.

Officials said the resumption of the service will provide convenience for the city's passengers going to Central China, East China and South China and provide more choice for travelers during the summer vacation.

In order to encourage more passengers to use the re-opened route, Baotou Airport and Air China jointly announced discount tickets during the summer break – with the lowest one-way fare starting at 280 yuan ($40.15).