Cheaper flights between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are possible, if the aircraft are allowed to fly on a straight route and carry cargo, said the China-based representative of Taiwan's China Airlines (CAL) yesterday.

Cross-strait regular weekend direct flights, launched Friday, are routed to make a detour through Hong Kong air space, due to lingering security concerns between Taiwan and China, but a quarter of the fuel cost can be saved without the detour, said the representative Roger Han.

If cargo transportation is also allowed on direct flights, then the current direct flights' fares can definitely be lowered, Han said, noting that the company can earn an additional income of around NT$1 million from each flight, if the airplane is allowed to carry cargo on its lower deck container.

The long expected weekend direct cross-strait charter flight services began Friday after landmark agreements reached between China and Taiwan in June. Five Taiwanese carriers were given the green light to operate the flights.