TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) announced a direct flight route from Kaohsiung to Matsu beginning June 6. 

Mandarin Airlines will operate a direct one-hour-and-fifty-minute flight between Kaohsiung International Airport and Matsu’s Nangan Airport every Friday, CNA reported. Each flight will offer 66 seats, with a one-way fare of NT$3,543 (US$110).

At a press conference, Chen thanked legislators from both major parties for their efforts to make this regular route possible. Kaohsiung will subsidize NT$1,500 of the NT$3,500 one-way airfare for 800 Kaohsiung residents currently stationed in Matsu for military service. "This is how we show our support," he said, encouraging other counties and cities to adopt similar policies.

Chen hoped to increase the number of flights in the future.