BEIJING, Aug. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- China's first combined air-bus ticketing service was launched yesterday, linking Shanghai's airports with cities in neighboring provinces.

Passengers departing from or arriving at Hongqiao and Pudong international airports on domestic or international flights can book a single ticket that includes a long-distance bus journey.

The service, launched by the Shanghai Airport Authority and China Eastern Airlines, offers links to Suzhou, Wuxi and Kunshan in Jiangsu Province and Jiaxing and Hangzhou cities in Zhejiang Province.

"It's half of the cost of separate tickets," Zhang Chi, senior manager of China Eastern's marketing department, said yesterday. A combined air-rail service was expanded this week.