Flights between Taipei and Shanghai

President Ma Ying-jeou said on Monday that direct flights between Taipei Sonshan Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport will start in October. The direct flights will start from four flights a week and may increase in the future.The current direct flights between Taipei and Shanghai are to and from Shanghai International Pudong Airport, which is further from Shanghai city center than Hongqiao Airport.

At the Chinese New Year gathering of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, Ma said there were agreements between Taiwan and Japan, South Korea and China to increase international flights between the nations. However, the plans were delayed because Japan and South Korea were worried about offending Mainland China. As the relationship between Taiwan and China had improved, there will be direct flights from Taipei Sonshan Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Tokyo Haneda Airport in October.The government is still negotiating with South Korea.