SHENYANG - Malaysia's low-cost airline AirAsia said Thursday it will launch a direct flight between Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning province, and Bangkok on June 25.

The 5-hour flight will be operated every Tuesday and Thursday on Airbus A330.

A total of 38 million foreign tourists visited Thailand last year with Chinese arrivals accounting for the most at 27.6 percent, according to the Shenyang office of Tourism Authority of Thailand.

"Shenyang serves as the economic, industrial and investment center in Northeast China and the flight will be significant in expanding our flight network," said Shirley Zhou, AirAsia's regional commercial head.