Direct cross-straits flights for the Mid-autumn Festival begin on Tuesday. There are 24 round-trip charter flights scheduled to run between the mainland and Taiwan.

12 airline companies, six from the Chinese mainland and six from Taiwan, will operate the flights between the four mainland cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Taipei.

This years' mid-autumn charter flights will run until October 2nd. The Mid-Autumn Festival, whose date varies each year according to the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on Septemper 25 this year.