TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China Airlines will launch direct flights between Taiwan and Ishigaki in May, providing a faster link to the Japanese island located about 260 kilometers from Taipei, CNA reported Monday.

The airline plans to open the route in late May, operating twice weekly between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and New Ishigaki Airport. According to China Airlines’ website, return tickets start at around NT$14,000 (US$424).

The flight will take about an hour, significantly reducing travel time compared to the five-hour journey via Okinawa’s Naha Airport. Okinawa’s tourism agency highlights Ishigaki’s scenery, water sports, stargazing, and traditional culture as major attractions.

Ishigaki Island, part of Okinawa Prefecture’s Yaeyama Islands, is also the administrative center for the disputed Diaoyutai Islands, which Taiwan considers part of Yilan County.

In September, Apex Aviation applied for permission to operate charter flights between Taiwan and Japan’s Yonaguni Island and announced plans for trial flights to Ishigaki this year.

Taiwanese officials previously expressed interest in a Yilan-Yonaguni ferry route in 2023, though no ferry services currently connect Taiwan to Ishigaki or its neighboring islands.

Recently, Ishigaki has seen increased military activity as Japan and the US prepare for potential Taiwan Strait contingencies. US Marines trained on the island in September, while the US military deployed an advanced radar system on Yonaguni Island in August.