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A direct air route linking south China's Shenzhen with Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, was launched on Saturday, marking the official opening of China's first direct passenger route to Latin America.
The inaugural plane on the route took off from Shenzhen Baoan International Airport at 21:00 (Beijing Time) on Saturday, and will land in Mexico City after a 16-hour flight, according to China Southern Airlines.
The route, which is more than 14,000 kilometers long, has become China's longest direct international flight and one of the world's 10 longest non-stop flights.
The direct flight from the Chinese megacity will depart on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and return flights from Mexico City will take about 21 hours and will include a refueling stop in Tijuana, with passengers staying onboard.
Shenzhen, a major city in China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, is a crucial tech and innovation hub in the country. Aviation industry analyst Juan Antonio Jose says one of the reasons for opening the new route is that a growing number of Chinese business leaders need direct flights to Mexico.
"Nearshoring is bringing China and Mexico closer together. Chinese companies are favoring nearshoring and they want direct contact with their subsidiaries in Mexico," said Jose.
Mexican tourism industry experts say the majority of passengers who are expected to use the new flight route to Shenzhen will most likely also be business travelers, instead of tourists.