China Eastern Airlines (CEA) will launch its first direct chartered flight from Shanghai to Taiwan on Monday.

Top mainland and Taiwan negotiators signed historic agreements early last month in Taipei to establish fullfledged links in transport, postal services and trade across the Straits.

Previously, six mainland carriers and five Taiwan carriers had been operating direct charter flights on the four traditional Chinese holidays and at weekends. Since July this year, there have been four flights a week. The aircraft, however, have had to fly through Hong Kong's airspace.