According to Su, the TAA will call a meeting of Taipei-based aviation companies to explore their demands in anticipation of the establishment of direct and regularly scheduled flights between Taiwan and China after Ma Ying-jeou of the opposition Kuomintang won Saturday's presidential election.

Su also said the TAA will be very willing to help the new government hold aviation talks with China if it is given the mission.

Direct cross-strait charter flights on major holidays or for humanitarian purposes have been operated for several years, so technical issues on opening direct air links between the two sides will not be a problem, Su said.

"For airlines wishing to fly cross-strait routes on a regular basis, it is in their maximum interest to have more flights and serve as many destinations as possible in China," Su pointed out.

Ma has repeatedly said he will allow for the opening of direct and regularly scheduled air and shipping links across the strait as soon as possible after he is inaugurated on May 20. The first step will be to arrange such services on weekends.

The president-elect has promised to have Taoyuan International Airport in northern Taiwan and Kaohsiung International Airport in southern Taiwan handle direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen.

The TAA and its Chinese counterpart, the Cross-Strait Shipping Exchange Association, representing Taiwanese and Chinese official authorities, were in charge of two-way aviation talks in recent years that succeeded in putting in place direct charter flights on special holidays.