SHANGHAI - Direct flights between Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport and Taipei's Songshan Airport were launched on Monday morning, significantly decreasing travel time across the Straits.

The new direct flight route will shorten the travelers' time by two hours, as the two airports are located near the city centers and travelers will spend less time on the ground commute.

The two cities already operate direct flights between their two larger international terminals - Taoyuan Airport in Taipei and Pudong Airport in Shanghai - each of which is an hour away from its respective city center.