Shanghai's two carriers will add seven flights a week from Shanghai to Taipei following an agreement between authorities on regular cross-Strait charter flights.

China Eastern Airlines, the country's third largest carrier, will run daily flights from Shanghai to Taipei and increase trips from Nanjing to Taipei to twice weekly flights from December 15.

The carrier will also launch weekly flights to Taipei from the three cities of Xi'an, Kunming and Wuhan. The ticket price has not been finalized.

China Eastern said it will also launch cargo flights 10 times a month between Shanghai and Taiwan from next month.

Another local carrier, Shanghai Airlines, will increase its frequency to five times a week, except Tuesday and Wednesday.

Previously, flights across the Taiwan Strait were only offered on weekends and during the country's four major festivals.

Chen Yunlin, president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, and Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Taiwan-based Strait Exchange Foundation, signed an agreement on November 4 to launch 54 passenger charter flights each week.

In addition to the original six Chinese mainland carriers, three airlines -Sichuan Airlines, Shandong Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines - will be allowed to operate the cross-Strait charter flights.

(Shanghai Daily November 28, 2008)