Spring Airlines Co Ltd, the nation's only low cost carrier, will launch direct flights from Shanghai to Kaohsiung on Oct 27, becoming the first privately owned carrier from the Chinese mainland to run direct flights across the Taiwan Straits.

From Oct 27, the Shanghai-based Spring Airlines will start thrice-weekly flights on the route, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, taking about two hours and 10 minutes. Provided to China Daily

From Oct 27, the Shanghai-based airline will start thrice-weekly flights on the route, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, taking about two hours and 10 minutes.

Kaohsiung is Taiwan's second-largest city and an industrial hub located in the southwest part of the island. Shanghai, which boasts premium infrastructure, business environment and bright prospects for economic development, has attracted many Taiwan people to move there.

A census conducted in November 2010 showed that about 700,000 people from Taiwan settled in Shanghai.

Increasing interaction across the Taiwan Straits has created huge demand for direct flight services. The launch of Shanghai-Kaohsiung flights makes Spring Airlines the first budget airline to operate direct flights between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan since direct flights across the Taiwan Straits became regular in 2009.

Famous for its low-cost operation model, Spring Airlines is expected to offer tickets between the two cities at prices 30 percent to 40 percent lower than the market average. On its official website, the ticket price is as low as 430 yuan ($70).

According to Zhang Wu'an, a spokesman for Spring Airlines, there will be 10 special offers for each flight. These tickets will be available for smartphone users only after Saturday. "The lowest price will be just 199 yuan," said Zhang.