Baotou Airport -- in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region -- relaunched direct flights to Beijing, starting on July 10, according to a report in the Baotou Evening News.

The direct flight, operated by Air China, is one of the most popular air routes at Baotou Airport, with most of the passengers being business travellers.

The flight was temporarily suspended due to the novel coronavirus outbreak earlier in the year in Beijing.

As the risk level of epidemic outbreaks in Beijing continues to be downgraded, those leaving Beijing in low-risk areas no longer require a negative nucleic acid test certificate.

Officials said the flight was relaunched to meet the growing needs of passengers.

It is scheduled to fly twice daily, taking in Beijing at 09:55 hrs and landing in Baotou at 11:40 hrs. The return flight departs Baotou at 12:25 hrs and reaches Beijing at 13:50 hrs.

Baotou Airport coordinated with Air China to introduce preferential fares during the summer.

The minimum cost from Beijing to Baotou is only 380 yuan ($54.19) and the minimum cost from Baotou to Beijing is only 240 yuan.