China's Southern Airlines is expected to carry the first-ever direct flight from the Chinese Mainland to Taiwan. The flight will leave Guangzhou at 8:00 a.m. and arrive in Taipei at 9:30 on January 29.

During the upcoming Spring Festival, also called the Chinese New Year, six mainland airlines will operate 24 two-way passenger flights, a total of 48 flights, across the Taiwan Straits.

The six airlines are Air China, Eastern Airlines, Southern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Xiamen Airlines and Hainan Airlines, according to the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC).

Six Taiwan airlines will be allowed to operate direct cross-straits passenger flights during the same period.

Source: Xinhua