Direct Flights from China to Taiwan

Go Ma Ying Jiu!

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)-- Taiwan is preparing to welcome hundreds of Chinese tourists who will arrive with the launch of historic regular commercial flights between the two rivals.

More than 600 Chinese are set to arrive at Taoyuan international airport in northern Taiwan and the Taipei domestic airport via five mainland carriers Friday when the air service opens for the first time since the two sides split amid civil war in 1949.startclickprintexclude

Taiwan barred direct travel to and from the mainland for decades as a security measure, but it has allowed limited charter flights on Chinese holidays in recent years.

The regular weekend flights are the result of negotiations initiated by Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou after he took office in May.