Taiwan and Mainland China launch regular cross-Strait services

Taiwan and Mainland China will launch regular cross-Strait services today (31-Aug-09), with the number of weekly services increasing from the current 108 weekly charter services to 270 weekly scheduled services on 32 routes. Mainland carriers will operate to eight destinations in Taiwan, while Taiwan airlines will operate to 27 cities in the Mainland (DPA, 30-Aug-09). Beijing has authorised 16 airlines to operate direct services to Taiwan. Taiwan carriers stated they are optimistic about the scheduled services, with current average load factors of charter services at above 75% (DPA, 30-Aug-09). Load factors on services to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are averaging 90%, while load factors on services to smaller Mainland cities are averaging 57%.