XIAMEN - A Boeing 787-9 left Xiamen in Fujian province, East China, for Los Angeles, the United States, on Tuesday evening -- the first direct flight between the two cities.

Xiamen Airlines will operate the 13-hour flight every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

"This new flight means more access to Xiamen from my hometown L.A., and more opportunities for me to come here to travel," said Francis Tercek, a passenger on the flight.

She said in the past, she had to transit in Beijing or Shanghai. The new direct flight is not only cheaper, but it takes less time, she added.

This is the third Xiamen Airlines flight linking Xiamen with cities in the US, L.A. follows flights to Seattle and New York.

The airline also plans to start a L.A.-Qingdao-Xiamen flight this December.