Mainland to slash cross-Strait airfares

The Chinese mainland and Taiwanese aviation authorities have decided to slash cross-Strait airfares by 10 to 15 percent to boost tourism, Li Jiaxiang, director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation, said Sunday.

In another move boosting cross-Strait tourism, mainland authorities will build four new airports and renovate four others in the West Strait Economic District -- a mainland region close to Taiwan covering 21 cities and several southeast provinces -- Li said at the weeklong second Straits Forum being held in the mainland's southeastern coastal city of Xiamen.

Li also said cross-Strait flight numbers will be increased to 420 times per week from the current 380 times per week.