China and Taiwan agree to increase weekly cross-Strait services to 616 from Mar-2013

China and Taiwan agreed to open nine additional cities for non-stop regular and charter cross-Strait service and increase the number of weekly services between mainland China and Taiwan from 558 to 616 from Mar-2013, according to the Economic Daily. The mainland agreed to open eight additional cities including Yinchuan, Hohhot, Zhangjiajie, Urumqi, Xining, Hailar, Lijiang and Weihai, bringing the number of mainland cities open to services from Taiwan from 41 to 54, far exceeding the 40 mainland cities opened to service from Hong Kong. Taiwan also opened Chiayi for cross-Strait services. Taiwan Civil Aeronautics Administration deputy director general Lee Wanli said "it is fair to expect the new flights no later than April, but in the end it will be up to the carriers from the two sides which provide… services on the routes."