CAA: 28 Cross-Strait Direct Flight Routes Now Open
Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) announced that a total of 28 direct flight routes across the Taiwan Strait have been opened, including 15 regular flights and 13 charter flights. This represents the maximum extent of opening possible under current cross-strait conditions, with full consideration of user demand.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 26, 2026 at 17:35
- 🔍 Collected: April 26, 2026 at 18:01 (26 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 26, 2026 at 18:13 (11 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Yu Hsiao-wen, Taipei, 26th) The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) stated today that to date, 15 regular flight routes and 13 charter flight routes across the Taiwan Strait have been opened, totaling 28 routes. Under the current cross-strait situation and objective environment, these 28 open routes almost cover all popular routes and those with anticipated frequent demand.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China recently issued 10 measures related to Taiwan, including "promoting the full normalization of cross-strait air passenger direct flights," and the mainland initiated communication through "mini-three links for civil aviation," requesting the opening of several routes and urging the full restoration of cross-strait passenger direct flights as soon as possible.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications Civil Aeronautics Administration issued a press release today, pointing out that the five points of explanation released by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) in a press release on April 16 represent a common position reached through discussions among relevant government agencies and remain unchanged to date.
The CAA stated that all countries worldwide, when opening up air transport, adhere to principles of safety and reciprocity, and consider market factors to make arrangements through negotiations. Past openings of cross-strait air rights and routes were based on the specific historical and spatial context at the time.
The CAA said that after the COVID-19 (2019 Coronavirus Disease) pandemic, the cross-strait situation and objective environment have changed significantly. However, the government still follows the aforementioned principles and fully considers the needs of operators and travelers, progressively making the greatest degree of opening.
The CAA stated that to date, the government has opened 15 regular flight routes (including Beijing, Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao, Xiamen, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Qingdao, Wuhan, Ningbo, Zhengzhou), with 420 flights possible per week.
In addition, 13 charter flight routes have been opened (including Shenyang, Wuxi, Haikou, Changsha, Xi'an, Jinan, Hefei, Nanchang, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Dalian, Guilin, Xuzhou). Aviation operators can apply for charter flights during festive periods such as Lunar New Year, Tomb-Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival within their allocated air rights quota.
The CAA emphasized that as long as there is sufficient need, they do not rule out converting charter routes to regular flight routes. Under the current cross-strait situation and objective environment, the 28 open routes almost cover all popular routes and those with anticipated frequent demand, which sufficiently proves that the government has fully considered the needs of cross-strait air transport.
Regarding air rights and flight utilization rates, the CAA said that from January to March this year, cross-strait airlines actually operated an average of 310 flights per week. In March, Taiwanese operators operated an average of 115 flights per week, with an air rights utilization rate of 55% (of which 13 Shanghai flights could not operate due to delayed appropriate time slots from the Chinese side). The average load factor from January to March 2026 was 75.9%.
As for charter flight routes, the CAA said that since their opening in March 2023, no cross-strait operators have submitted applications, which indicates that there is still room for operators to apply for the already open air rights and routes.
The CAA said that in the future, it will continue to uphold established policy principles, regularly review the relevant operations of cross-strait air passenger direct flights, and make necessary adjustments in due course. Beyond the 28 open routes, if Taiwanese operators have frequent demand, they can submit a written request to the CAA, which will then coordinate with relevant agencies to practically review and handle the request and make reasonable decisions.
The CAA pointed out that all policy explanations represent the consistent internal position of the government, and the MAC's relevant explanations are responses to individual media questions under established government policy, and there is no inconsistency with the CAA's position. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150426
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(Central News Agency reporter Yu Hsiao-wen, Taipei, 26th) The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) stated today that to date, 15 regular flight routes and 13 charter flight routes across the Taiwan Strait have been opened, totaling 28 routes. Under the current cross-strait situation and objective environment, these 28 open routes almost cover all popular routes and those with anticipated frequent demand.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China recently issued 10 measures related to Taiwan, including "promoting the full normalization of cross-strait air passenger direct flights," and the mainland initiated communication through "mini-three links for civil aviation," requesting the opening of several routes and urging the full restoration of cross-strait passenger direct flights as soon as possible.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications Civil Aeronautics Administration issued a press release today, pointing out that the five points of explanation released by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) in a press release on April 16 represent a common position reached through discussions among relevant government agencies and remain unchanged to date.
The CAA stated that all countries worldwide, when opening up air transport, adhere to principles of safety and reciprocity, and consider market factors to make arrangements through negotiations. Past openings of cross-strait air rights and routes were based on the specific historical and spatial context at the time.
The CAA said that after the COVID-19 (2019 Coronavirus Disease) pandemic, the cross-strait situation and objective environment have changed significantly. However, the government still follows the aforementioned principles and fully considers the needs of operators and travelers, progressively making the greatest degree of opening.
The CAA stated that to date, the government has opened 15 regular flight routes (including Beijing, Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao, Xiamen, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Qingdao, Wuhan, Ningbo, Zhengzhou), with 420 flights possible per week.
In addition, 13 charter flight routes have been opened (including Shenyang, Wuxi, Haikou, Changsha, Xi'an, Jinan, Hefei, Nanchang, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Dalian, Guilin, Xuzhou). Aviation operators can apply for charter flights during festive periods such as Lunar New Year, Tomb-Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival within their allocated air rights quota.
The CAA emphasized that as long as there is sufficient need, they do not rule out converting charter routes to regular flight routes. Under the current cross-strait situation and objective environment, the 28 open routes almost cover all popular routes and those with anticipated frequent demand, which sufficiently proves that the government has fully considered the needs of cross-strait air transport.
Regarding air rights and flight utilization rates, the CAA said that from January to March this year, cross-strait airlines actually operated an average of 310 flights per week. In March, Taiwanese operators operated an average of 115 flights per week, with an air rights utilization rate of 55% (of which 13 Shanghai flights could not operate due to delayed appropriate time slots from the Chinese side). The average load factor from January to March 2026 was 75.9%.
As for charter flight routes, the CAA said that since their opening in March 2023, no cross-strait operators have submitted applications, which indicates that there is still room for operators to apply for the already open air rights and routes.
The CAA said that in the future, it will continue to uphold established policy principles, regularly review the relevant operations of cross-strait air passenger direct flights, and make necessary adjustments in due course. Beyond the 28 open routes, if Taiwanese operators have frequent demand, they can submit a written request to the CAA, which will then coordinate with relevant agencies to practically review and handle the request and make reasonable decisions.
The CAA pointed out that all policy explanations represent the consistent internal position of the government, and the MAC's relevant explanations are responses to individual media questions under established government policy, and there is no inconsistency with the CAA's position. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150426
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Without authorization, the text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized.