Shenzhen Airlines, China's fifth largest air carrier, announced Saturday it will start direct flights between Shenzhen and Bangkok from March 31.

The ZH9793 service, on a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, will depart Shenzhen at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and arrive in Bangkok at 1 a.m. local time the following days, the airline said in a press release.

Flights numbered ZH9794 will leave Bangkok at 2:30 a.m. local time on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and arrive in Shenzhen at 6 a.m. Beijing time the same day.

The privately-owned airline said in the statement that it was planning to launch direct flights from Shenzhen to Southeast Asian cities, including Singapore and Hanoi, without giving specific schedules.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2009)