Beijing, Aug 17 : Air China President Cai Jianjiang has said that it will begin regular scheduled flights between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan from Aug 31.

Jianjiang said that Taiwan''s civil aviation authority granted a business license to Air China on Aug 13, and the carrier’s branch was also established in Taiwan.

“The carrier will operate 27 return flights each week across the Taiwan Straits on six routes from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou and Tianjin to Taipei Taoyuan Airport,” Xinhua quoted Jianjiang, as saying.

The announcement came after the Civil Aviation Administration of China published a flights schedule on July 7 between the mainland and Taiwan for nine passenger air carriers and two freight air carriers.

Earlier, flights were only offered on weekends and during the country''s four major traditional festivals - the Spring Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. (ANI)