Will a Wave of Chinese Tourists Flood Taiwan? Direct Cross-Strait Flights Surge with 28 Routes Opening, Targeting 4 Key Cities – Full Flight Details Inside

Amid strong travel demand, Taiwan's aviation market is witnessing a significant expansion in flight routes. Taichung International Airport (Ching Chuan Kang Airport) has welcomed multiple new routes to Northeast Asia and across the Taiwan Strait, while China Airlines is set to resume its Taoyuan-to-Chongqing direct flight by the end of October, after a six-year suspension. In response to Beijing's call to relax direct flight restrictions, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council emphasized that current flight quotas remain underutilized, with airlines independently assessing operations based on market demand.

Taichung Airport sees major expansion in cross-strait and Northeast Asian routes

Residents in central Taiwan previously had to travel to Taoyuan or Kaohsiung airports for international flights. Now, Taichung International Airport's growing passenger volume and market potential have drawn strong interest from airlines, prompting expanded operations.

On the Northeast Asian front, China Airlines officially launched regular 'Taichung–Okinawa' flights on July 21 (with additional summer charter flights starting August 13), joining Starlux Airlines and Tigerair Taiwan to offer central Taiwan travelers more flexible flight times to Japan.

For cross-strait routes, multiple new and resumed services launched in Taichung and Kaohsiung during the summer:

- Chengdu Tianfu: China Eastern Airlines resumed the 'Taichung–Chengdu Tianfu' route on July 1. Full-service carrier Loong Air joined the route on July 28, operating A320 aircraft. - Qingdao: Shandong Airlines resumed the 'Taichung–Qingdao' route on July 23. - Ningbo: Spring Airlines launched the 'Kaohsiung–Ningbo Lishe' route on July 4, providing southern Taiwan with a new direct cross-strait option.

Flight Route Details:

| Airline | Route | Launch/Resumption Date | Weekly Flights | Features | |---|---|---|---|---| | China Airlines | Taichung–Okinawa | July 21 | Regular service (additional summer charters from August 13) | Joins Starlux and Tigerair, offering more flexible departure times for central Japan-bound travelers | | China Eastern Airlines | Taichung–Chengdu Tianfu | July 1 | Wednesdays, Sundays (2 weekly) | First cross-strait route resumed in July, targeting Sichuan tourism gateway | | Spring Airlines | Kaohsiung–Ningbo Lishe | July 4 | Tuesdays, Saturdays (2 weekly) | Only new cross-strait route added in southern Taiwan in July, convenient for Zhejiang access | | Shandong Airlines | Taichung–Qingdao | July 23 | Thursdays (1 weekly, operating until October 24) | Direct access to Shandong's beer culture and coastal scenery, suitable for business, family visits, and tourism | | Loong Air | Taichung–Chengdu Tianfu | July 28 | Tuesdays, Saturdays (2 weekly) | Full-service airline entry; second carrier on Chengdu route introduces competition |

China Airlines to resume Taoyuan–Chongqing route after 6-year gap

Beyond Taichung's route boom, Taiwan's carriers are signaling broader cross-strait expansion. China Airlines plans to officially resume the 'Taoyuan–Chongqing Jiangbei' direct route on October 28, 2026. This route, suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic, marks its first restart in six years.

- Aircraft: Airbus A321neo - Frequency: One round-trip weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays - Flight Schedule: - CI553 (Taoyuan to Chongqing): Departs Taoyuan Airport at 15:30, arrives Chongqing Jiangbei Airport at 19:00 - CI554 (Chongqing to Taoyuan): Departs Chongqing Jiangbei Airport at 20:00, arrives Taoyuan Airport at 23:00

Mainland Affairs Council rebuts Beijing's call for expanded flights: 'Quotas not fully used'

In response to Beijing's claim that cross-strait flights are operating at up to 97% capacity and calling for Taiwan to lift 'unreasonable restrictions,' Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Chiang Wen-chieh responded at a press conference on the 30th.

Chiang noted that outbound travel by Taiwanese has surged, with over 10 million overseas trips recorded in the first six months of 2026—up 17% year-on-year, according to Tourism Administration data. He emphasized that routes to Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand are also in high demand, often exceeding supply. The Council also warned that travel to China remains relatively high-risk due to various factors, while trips to Japan and South Korea are comparatively more cost-effective.

Regarding total flight capacity, Chiang clarified that Taiwan currently holds a weekly quota of 211 cross-strait flights, but domestic carriers (such as China Airlines and EVA Air) are only operating 114 flights, leaving 97 slots unused. He stressed that airlines independently evaluate operational costs and profitability when deciding routes, while the Council oversees overall policy. As long as flights stay within the quota, airlines can autonomously apply to operate them.

Overview of direct flights from Taiwan's four major airports to China

Currently, 28 direct flight destinations are open between Taiwan and mainland China, including 15 regular route cities and 13 charter-only holiday destinations. Flights depart from Taoyuan, Songshan, Taichung, and Kaohsiung airports. With major route enhancements in central and southern Taiwan in July—including dual operations by China Eastern and Loong Air on 'Taichung–Chengdu,' Shandong Airlines resuming 'Taichung–Qingdao,' and Spring Airlines launching 'Kaohsiung–Ningbo'—residents in central and southern regions no longer need to travel north to depart.

According to the Civil Aeronautics Administration, open cross-strait destinations are divided into two categories:

Regular Routes (15 cities, 420 weekly flight slots): Beijing, Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao, Xiamen, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Qingdao, Wuhan, Ningbo, Zhengzhou

Charter Destinations (13 cities, holiday applications only): Shenyang, Wuxi, Haikou, Changsha, Xi'an, Jinan, Hefei, Nanchang, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Dalian, Guilin, Xuzhou

2026 Direct Cross-Strait Flight Comparison by Taiwan's Four Major Airports

| Airport | Regular Routes | Key Direct Cities | Positioning & Highlights | |---|---|---|---| | Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) | 14 routes | Beijing, Pudong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Qingdao, Xiamen, Fuzhou | Highest frequency, most comprehensive coverage; ~30–40 daily cross-strait flights | | Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) | 3 routes | Shanghai Hongqiao, Xiamen, Fuzhou | Convenient for Taipei city center departures; Hongqiao route is a business travel gold standard | | Taichung International Airport (RMQ) | 3 routes | Nanjing, Chengdu (Tianfu), Qingdao | Biggest boost for central Taiwan in 5 years; Chengdu and Qingdao direct flights launched in July | | Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) | 8 routes | Pudong, Hongqiao, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xiamen (Ningbo added) | Southern Taiwan's cross-strait gateway; Spring Airlines added direct Ningbo service in July |