China’s Civil Aviation Administration on Tuesday approved a new air route that will connect Urumqi to Western Europe directly for the first time.

The approval was announced at a civil aviation conference between China and Central Asian countries. It revealed that the Chengdu-Urumqi-Rome route will be operated by Air China.

The route is expected to save a significant amount of travel time for passengers wishing to travel from the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous to Western Europe. Prior to the opening of the route, passengers were required to transfer in other cities before flying to Rome and on to other countries in Europe.

To better service the route, the Civil Aviation Administration will beef up its coordination of international airlines in the Urumqi airport, especially those in Central Asia and Europe.

To support the Belt and Road Initiative, China is seeking to establish more flights to connect the country with Central Asian cities such as Almaty, Astana and Bishkek.

Officials said at the conference that the Civil Aviation Administration will boost cooperation with the Xinjiang government to build an international airport hub in the region aimed at connecting inland China with Central and Western Asia, and Europe.

By Miao Jiayu and edited by Jake Hooson