Taipei  - Three Chinese airlines have launched a campaign to lure Taiwanese residents into using China as a transit stop when flying to third countries, Taiwan radio said on Monday.

Southern China Airlines, Air China and a third unnamed airline are launching the campaign in anticipation of Taiwan's upcoming launch of direct air links with China to take advantage of Taiwan's limited air links with foreign countries, the Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC) said.

Besides saving air travel time, the airlines are offering Taiwanese travellers free-of-charge accommodation near the Chinese airports, BCC said.

Taiwan's lack of diplomatic ties with most countries as hurt Taiwan, making it difficult for the island to sign air pacts with certain countries on one hand, and causing foreign airlines to neglect Taiwan on the other.

Taiwan's air network with Asia, Europe and the United States are not extensive, while Taiwan has no direct air links at all with Africa and Latin America.

Chinese airlines have direct flights to many countries around the world.

Air travel between Taiwan and China, banned after the 1949 Chinese Civil War, was first reopened to a limited extent in 1987 and has increased ever since owing to greater economic ties between the two political enemies. (dpa)