A direct air route connecting Taiwan and Yichang city on the Chinese mainland opened on Saturday, according to Yichang's Bureau of Commerce on Sunday.

The charter flight is operated by Taiwan's TransAsia Airways. The Airbus 320 flight lasts less than three hours, departing each Saturday at 2:30 pm from Taiwan's Taizhong City and arriving in Yichang at 5:50 pm The return flight departs at 6:40 pm on the same day, according to the bureau.

The flight service is available until Oct 31 this year, the bureau said.

Liu Jianxin, deputy mayor of Yichang, Hubei Province, said he expects the new air route to promote economic cooperation and cultural exchange between Yichang and Taiwan.