Successful indirect flights from Shanghai to Taiwan by two chartered planes of Taiwanese airlines have raised hopes that direct flights between the mainland and the island can be kick-started.

The distance between Shanghai and Taipei is about 1,000 kilometers and the direct flying time is just one hour and fifteen minutes.

But it took more than four hours for the China Airlines chartered plane to fly from Shanghai to Taipei on Sunday because of a stopover in Hong Kong, said Xia Xinghua, director-general of the East China Regional Administration of Civil Aviation of China.

Ye Yigan, chairman of the China Eastern Air Group, said the chartered flights cannot eradicate the inconvenience to Taiwan compatriots crossing the Taiwan Straits.

Both Xia and Ye agreed that only direct flights could benefit people on the mainland and in Taiwan.

In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, Chang Hsiao-yen said the chartered flights saved neither time nor money.

Chang said mainland companies should also take part in arranging chartered flights to ensure business is shared fairly.

Chang added the success of the chartered flights has enhanced co-operation between the two sides and has laid solid groundwork for the realization of direct flights.

The chartered flights on Sunday and those over following days during Spring Festival holiday are only run by Taiwanese airlines.

(China Daily January 28, 2003)