The initiation of the west-to-east operation of the W122 and W123 routes that connect with the M503 route, effective Friday, benefits both sides of the Taiwan Strait, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said on Friday.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that the Civil Aviation Administration of China announced on Friday the initiation of the west-to-east routes W122 and W123 to connect with the M503 route.

"The M503 route falls within the Shanghai flight information region, and its establishment and implementation are a regular task in the management of mainland civil aviation airspace," she said.

She added that the implementation of this measure aims to alleviate the pressure of flight growth in the relevant areas, ensure flight safety, reduce flight delays, and safeguard the rights and interests of passengers, which is beneficial for compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

"Since the cancellation of flight deviation measures for the M503 route, the overall operation has been safe and stable, effectively improving the operation of cross-Strait flights and further facilitating the travel of people on both sides of the strait," Zhu said.