Shenzhen Airlines, China's fifth largest air carrier, announced on March 7 that 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.