Five more direct flights were launched Monday between the Chinese mainland's southernmost province of Hainan and Taiwan, bringing the total number of direct flights between the two regions to nine.

Taiwan's China Airlines opened a new direct air route between Taipei and Haikou, the provincial capital of Hainan, with three round-trip flights per week, said Deng Xiaogang, executive vice mayor of Haikou.

In addition, Taiwan's EVA Air on Monday also opened a new direct air route between Taipei and Haikou, with two round-trip flights per week, Deng said.

"Convenient air travel will help promote economic and cultural exchanges between Hainan and Taiwan and boost tourism in both cities," Deng said.

Hainan Airlines has been operating two direct flights per week between Haikou and Taipei since 2008, while China Airlines currently runs two direct flights between Sanya, a beach resort city in Hainan, and Taipei.