REGULAR flights will begin on June 14 between Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport and Taiwan's Songshan Airport with 28 flights a week, cross-strait aviation authorities said.

The mainland and Taiwan will appoint two or three airlines to operate 14 flights a week, according to Wang Ronghua, a senior consultant of Cross-Strait Aviation Transport Exchange Council.

The council had a two-day meeting with Taipei Aviation Transport Business Association over the weekend.

Passengers will welcome the Hongqiao to Taipei flights because they will be shorter than flying from Pudong International Airport, officials said.

The mainland suggested adding seven more flights every week between Hongqiao and Songshan while the Taiwan side hoped to discuss this later after Songshan airport facilities are improved.

Each side of the strait will also launch 36 new flights between Taiwan and Xiamen and Fuzhou in Fujian Province, Beijing, and Shenzhen in Guangdong Province.

The cross-strait sides also agreed that airlines can run up to 20 irregular chartered flights for tourists each month to Taiwan's scenic places including Hualien, Taitung, Taichung and Penghu.

As for freight, each side will add 10 flights a week, including one flight between Shanghai and Taiwan. Four new freight air destinations in the mainland will be added, Wang said.