China Airlines Launches Tainan-Hong Kong

China Airlines, Taiwan's largest air carrier, launched direct flights from southern Taiwan's Tainan City to Hong Kong Thursday, establishing the first such route from Tainan Airport.

CAL said it hopes to offer a more convenient service to Tainan residents traveling to China, as they have had to go further south to Kaohsiung International Airport to catch flights, CAL said.

The new direct flights to Hong Kong will be scheduled three times a week - on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday - on Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the airline said.

Currently, CAL operates 156 round-trip flights per week to Hong Kong -- 88 from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, 40 from Kaohsiung International Airport and 28 from Taichung Airport.