Spring Airlines (9C), China's first and largest low-cost carrier, is waiting governmental approval to launch a nonstop passenger service from Shanghai Pudong to Pyongyang, capital of North Korea starting February 2016.

Pending government approval, the Shanghai-based carrier will use its Airbus A320 aircraft on the Shanghai-Pyongyang route, with four flights weekly, according to an announcement released Friday on the website of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Once launched, it will become Spring Airlines' first route to North Korea and the first nonstop service between Shanghai and Pyongyang which is operated by a Chinese airline. Meanwhile, the Shanghai-based carrier will also mark the first low-cost carrier flying to North Korea.

The Air Transportation Department of CAAC is soliciting public comments on the application until Nov. 30, 2015.