HARBIN, June 28 -- China Southern Airlines announced on Wednesday that a new air route from northeast China's Harbin to Irkutsk will begin services in July.

Flight CZ8339/40 connects Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province, with Irkutsk, near Lake Baikal in Russia, the airline said in a statement.

From July 16, the flight will depart every Sunday. It leaves Harbin at 5:25 p.m. and arrive in Irkutsk around 8 p.m. The return flight will depart at 9:15 p.m. and arrive in Harbin at 11:55 p.m. local time.