Taipei  - Taiwan and China launched regular cross-strait flights Monday, ending Taipei's six-decade ban on air links with the mainland imposed at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.

Taiwan and Chinese airlines will operate a total of 270 round-trip flights per week, up from the current 108 charter flights.

Chinese airlines flies to eight destinations in Taiwan, while Taiwan airlines flies to 27 cities in China.

On the first day 44 flights across the Taiwan Strait are planned.

Taiwan did not hold launch ceremonies as the island is mourning the nearly 700 people killed by Typhoon Morakot, which triggered landslides destroying several villages when it hit southern Taiwan earlier this month.

China planned celebrations at six airports, but canceled them to protest Taiwan approving a visit by the Dalai Lama to bless the typhoon victims.

The Tibetan spiritual leader arrived Sunday night for a four-day visit, which the Taipei government insists is purely religious.

Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of promoting independence for Tibet, while he maintains he only wants greater autonomy for the region.

China accused Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party of plotting the visit to sabotage Taipei-Beijing ties, which have been improving rapidly since President Ma Ying-jeou took office last year.

China still regards Taiwan a breakaway province awaiting reunification.

The launch of regular flights marks a milestone in Taiwan-China ties. Previously Taiwanese going to China had to change flights, usually at Hong Kong, while Chinese citizens were not allowed to visit Taiwan.

As cross-strait tension began to thaw, Taiwan and China launched holiday charter flights in 2003, which were expanded to weekend charter flights in July 2008 and upgraded to daily charter flights in December.

The opening of regular flights will cut the cost and time of passenger and cargo flights between Taiwan and China, but it will hurt Hong Kong's air transport as Taiwan passengers no longer need to transit through Hong Kong to go to China. (dpa)