URUMQI - China Southern Airlines launched a route linking Beijing, Urumqi and Turkey's metropolis of Istanbul Tuesday.

The carrier will operate three flights per week, with Urumqi, capital of northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, acting as a stop-over for the journey, a spokesman with China Southern's Xinjiang Branch said.

It is the first air route to Turkey launched by China Southern as well as the company's 15th international flight route in Xinjiang, the spokesman said.

"We are building Urumqi into an aviation hub in the country's western regions," he said.

In July, China's Hainan Airlines debuted the country's first direct air route linking Shanghai, Urumqi and Istanbul, which offers a twice-weekly flight service.