China CITIC Bank and Air China launched a joint "40080-95558" business and travel service phone number on Dec. 25.

"It's the first hotline in China jointly launched by a bank and an airline company," said Cui Hong, general manager of sales department of Air China.

Cui said the services available through the number include air ticket sales, business consultation and flight information.

Wang Ningqiao, vice president of China CITIC Bank's credit card center said the lender has issued more than one million credit cards with Air China in the past 32 months, and the total transaction volume has reached 10 billion yuan (US$1.46 billion).

It will only take an average of four minutes to book a flight ticket with the new number.

Photograph: Wang Ningqiao (left), vice president of China CITIC Bank's credit card center, shakes hands with Cui Hong, general manager of sales department of Air China, at the launching ceremony for business & travel service phone 40080-95558, on Dec. 25, 2008.