China Launches New Cross-Strait Flight Routes to Taiwan

Three Chinese airlines have announced plans to launch new direct flight routes connecting mainland China with Taiwan starting July 2026, marking the latest development in Beijing’s push to expand cross-strait air links. China Eastern Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Shandong Airlines will operate routes to Taichung and Kaohsiung, according to Sina News.

Background: The Policy Push

The new routes follow the “Zheng-Xi Meeting” between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou on April 12, after which the Chinese Communist Party’s Taiwan Affairs Office announced a 10-point preferential policy package. The measures explicitly called for “promoting the full restoration of normal cross-strait air passenger direct flights.”

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han confirmed the new routes at a regular press conference on May 13, stating they represent “a concrete measure by the mainland side responding to the travel needs of our Taiwanese compatriots,” as reported by UDN Economic Daily.

The Three New Routes

China Eastern Airlines will launch a Chengdu Tianfu Airport to Taichung Qingquangang Airport route on July 1, operating twice weekly (Wednesdays and Sundays) using Airbus A320 series aircraft. This marks the resumption of a route that had been suspended for years, reconnecting western China with central Taiwan.

Spring Airlines will inaugurate a Ningbo Lishe Airport to Kaohsiung Xiaogang Airport route on July 4, also operating twice weekly. This is a brand-new route — Ningbo previously only had direct flights to Taipei, making this a significant expansion of the cross-strait network into southern Taiwan.

Shandong Airlines will operate a Qingdao to Taichung Qingquangang route from July 23 to October 24, once weekly, targeting business travelers from Shandong province and surrounding areas as well as study-tourism travel.

Taiwan’s Cautious Response

Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party government has taken a measured stance. The Mainland Affairs Council characterized the 10-point policy as having “a strong political premise of ‘promoting unification and integration,’” calling it “old wine in new bottles” and “an extremely cheap deception,” as Liberty Times reported.

Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration confirmed receiving China’s requests but stated that existing capacity is sufficient. According to UDN Economic Daily, the CAA reported that 15 scheduled flight points are available with capacity for up to 420 flights per week, but only about 310 are currently operated. The Executive Yuan added that “at the current stage, the actual demand for cross-strait direct flights is not as high as imagined.”

Notably, 13 Shanghai-bound flights per week remain unflown because China has not provided appropriate time slots, and 13 charter flight points — including Xi’an — are available but no airlines have applied.

Growing Demand Amid Political Tensions

Despite the political friction, cross-strait aviation demand is growing. In April 2026, both sides jointly operated 3,140 direct passenger flights carrying 641,000 passengers — a 14% year-on-year increase — with average passenger load factors exceeding 85%.

Industry insiders expect more routes to follow as policy conditions evolve and market demand recovers. Multiple Chinese airlines are reportedly preparing applications to resume or launch additional routes to Taichung and Kaohsiung, pending approval from cross-strait aviation authorities.

Analysis: Practical Connectivity or Political Leverage?

The new routes sit at the intersection of practical transportation needs and geopolitical signaling. For Beijing, expanded air links serve dual purposes: they demonstrate tangible benefits for Taiwanese travelers and businesses while advancing the broader policy goal of cross-strait integration. For Taipei’s DPP government, the routes represent a political challenge — rejecting them risks alienating the business community, while accepting them could be framed as conceding to pressure.

Taiwan’s business community appears more receptive than its government. The National Commercial Guild, led by Chairman Hsu Shu-po, has organized industry voices in support of expanded routes, creating an internal dynamic where economic interests may push against political caution.

What to Watch For

The key question remains whether Taiwan’s CAA will formally approve the new routes applied for by Chinese airlines. Additionally, the resolution of the 13 unflown Shanghai-bound flights — currently stalled due to slot allocation issues — will be a critical indicator of whether cross-strait aviation can move beyond its current partial-capacity equilibrium. With demand growing at 14% annually, the gap between political posturing and practical travel needs will only become more pronounced.