Starting from this week, direct weekend flights are to fly between Taiwan and China. This move is expected to give a boost to carriers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. This can be achieved only at the expense of Hong Kong; however, only after all the present restrictions are lifted.

In a significant deal signed on 13th June, Beijing and Taipei agreed to introduce the first regular weekend flights after 1949. This has been achieved as a result of a decade long stalemate between China and the neighboring island that china claims as its own. Most interestingly, a great number of flights operated between China and Taiwan has to stop between a third external destination such as Hong Kong or Macau. This shall certainly prove to be a boost for airlines in these hubs.

Gradually, unlimited direct flights in the route are to wipe off not less than 10th off the bottom line of Cathy pacific, the flagship carrier of Hong Kong, which has henceforth enjoyed a large part of the business of transporting the passengers on the long winding route according to Nomura.

The deal that is taking off during this week is however limited that shall allow only a small number of flights directly operated exclusively over weekends, still requiring to pass through the airspace of Hong Kong. Though a broader deal is expected next year, according to the New Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, more direct and daily flights can be expected in the route soon.