Cross-Strait Flights Explode? '28 Routes Fully Opened' Targeting 4 Taiwanese Counties/Cities with Direct Flights – Full List of New Routes Revealed

As cross-strait market demand gradually recovers, China Airlines has announced the official resumption of the 'Taoyuan–Chongqing' direct passenger flight on October 28 this year. This route, suspended in February 2020 due to the pandemic and cross-strait passenger restrictions, will finally restart after six years, becoming a key indicator of recent expansions in national carriers’ cross-strait network layouts.

According to the global aviation route website 'AeroRoutes' and the latest flight information, China Airlines will operate the Airbus A321neo aircraft on this revived route, offering twice-weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays) round-trip services:

Outbound (CI553): Departs Taoyuan International Airport at 15:30, arrives at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at 19:00. Return (CI554): Departs Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at 20:00, arrives at Taoyuan International Airport at 23:00.

Which Airlines Fly to Chongqing? More Direct Flight Options Across Taiwan

With China Airlines resuming the Taoyuan route, travelers from Taiwan will have more flexible airport and timing options when traveling to Chongqing. Current cross-strait flight routes from various airports in Taiwan to Chongqing are as follows:

Taoyuan Departures: In addition to China Airlines’ twice-weekly service, Air China also offers direct flights.

Songshan Departures: Sichuan Airlines operates direct flights to Chongqing.

Kaohsiung Departures: China Airlines continues to operate the 'Kaohsiung–Chongqing' route, serving travelers from southern Taiwan.

Cross-Strait Routes Explode Since Summer: New Destinations Added in Taichung and Kaohsiung

Since this summer, cross-strait and regional air networks from major airports across Taiwan have shown strong recovery trends, especially with increased investments from both Taiwanese and Chinese carriers in central and southern airports:

Chengdu (Tianfu): China Eastern Airlines resumed the 'Taichung–Chengdu Tianfu' route in early July; full-service carrier Loong Air (Zhejiang Loong Airlines) subsequently entered this route, operating A320 aircraft for direct flights.

Qingdao: Shandong Airlines resumed the 'Taichung–Qingdao' flight in late July.

Ningbo: Spring Airlines launched the 'Kaohsiung–Ningbo' route, adding more direct flight options for southern Taiwan.

2026 Cross-Strait Route Overview: Direct Flights from Taiwan’s Four Major Airports

Currently, the government has opened 15 regular cross-strait passenger route cities (with a weekly quota of 420 flights) and 13 holiday charter route points. Below is the main regular route layout from Taiwan’s four major airports:

Departure Airport | Number of Regular Routes | Key Direct Cities & Route Features

Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) | 14 routes | Beijing, Pudong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Qingdao, Xiamen, Fuzhou. (Highest frequency, most comprehensive city coverage, approximately 30–40 flights daily)

Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) | 8 routes | Pudong, Hongqiao, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xiamen (with additional Ningbo service). (Gateway for southern Taiwan)

Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) | 3 routes | Shanghai Hongqiao, Xiamen, Fuzhou. (Focuses on downtown Taipei convenience; Hongqiao route is a business golden route)

Taichung International Airport (RMQ) | 3 routes | Nanjing, Chengdu (Tianfu), Qingdao. (Major boost for central/southern Taiwan, gradually completing direct flight coverage)

Note (Holiday Charter Regulations): The 13 charter points (including Shenyang, Wuxi, Haikou, Changsha, Xi’an, Jinan, Hefei, Nanchang, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Dalian, Guilin, Xuzhou) are only available for application during holidays.

Cross-Strait Charters Still Face Uncertainty: China Eastern’s 'Xi’an–Taoyuan' Mid-Autumn Festival Charter Application Rejected

Despite the gradual resumption of regular routes, holiday charter applications still face policy hurdles. The Commercial Council of Taiwan previously coordinated with China Eastern Airlines to apply for a Mid-Autumn Festival charter flight from 'Xi’an to Taoyuan.' On the 19th, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, confirmed that the application had been formally rejected by Taiwan’s civil aviation authority on the grounds of 'not within the holiday charter scope,' and the flight will not proceed.

Zhu Fenglian stated that this outcome reflects the continued strict conditions for charter applications, urging Taiwan to acknowledge the actual travel needs of cross-strait residents, promptly remove unreasonable restrictions, and restore more convenient air connectivity between the two sides.