London has gained its first ever non-stop flights to Taipei, the vibrant capital city of China's Taiwan province.

China Airlines will start the three times weekly service on 28 March, operating the connection with an Airbus A340 kitted out with 246 seats in Economy and 30 seats in Business.

Outbound flights to Taiwan will depart from London Heathrow Airport on Tuesday and Sunday at 9.15pm, touching down in the Chinese province at 6.15pm the following day.

The inbound leg with take off from Taipei at 9.25am on Tuesday and Sunday, arriving in the British capital at 5.05pm.

The airline is also operating a service on Thursday, which departs from Heathrow at 10.05pm for a 7.05pm arrival on Friday. Inbound flights leave Taipei at 9.25am on Thursday, touching down at 4.55pm.

Cheap airline tickets will be available on the route, with return fares starting from £370.

Philip Wei, chairman of the flag carrier, commented: “As the leading airline in Taiwan, China Airlines is committed to promoting tourism, culture and the economic development of the island.”

The carrier now serves a total of five destinations in Europe, operating 21 flights a week and offering key regional connections such as onward flights to Australia.

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The confusion surrounding the BA strike looks set to drag on this week, with news that British Airways is no longer working towards a deadline in talks with the Unite union.

It had been widely reported that a decision would be taken over industrial action by tomorrow (9 March), with cabin crew either setting dates for walkouts or lifting the BA strike threat.

But industry magazine TTG is now quoting an inside source as saying that talk of a deadline is premature and that discussions over the BA strike could continue well into this week.

Hopes of a resolution were given a boost on Friday when details emerged of a new cost-saving proposal from Unite that centred on a 3.5 per cent pay cut for cabin crew.

That development had been seen as a significant softening of the union’s tough stance, although BA boss Willie Walsh was always likely to be sceptical of the long-term benefits of its proposal. He has consistently stood by calls for a permanent restructuring of staffing levels on planes.

BA cabin crew voted in favour of staging strikes by a majority of 81 per cent in February, citing concerns over changes imposed on their working conditions last year.

Commenting on last Friday’s development, a BA insider tentatively voiced optimism by telling The Evening Standard: “There may be some scope for a deal to be done on new crew.”

But with BA now downplaying talk of a Tuesday deadline – something which both the flag carrier and Unite had explicitly committed to last week – it appears that passengers could be forced to endure several more days of uncertainty before a final decision is taken over the BA strike.

If the negotiations ultimately prove fruitless Unite must give BA seven days notice before staging walkouts, meaning that industrial action could begin as early as 15 March.

The union has ruled out targeting the Easter period for BA strike action, but all other dates are up in the air and passengers are being told to expect major disruption. A previous attempt by BA cabin crew to stage strikes over the Christmas and New Year period was blocked by the High Court.

Mr Walsh has warned that if BA strike action goes ahead he will be forced to implement even deeper cuts at the airline, which is forecast to lose up to £600 million this year.

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Scottish air passengers can now take advantage of a brand new direct service from Edinburgh Airport to the Balearic Island of Majorca, courtesy of Jet2.com.

The low-cost carrier is expanding its presence in the capital with new twice weekly flights to Majorca, with departures beginning on 26 June and costing from £34.99 one-way.

Best known for its pleasantly warm weather and stunning beaches, the Spanish island is a firm favourite with Brits in search of sun, sea and cultural attractions.

Sightseeing opportunities include the 14th Century Gothic Cathedral, La Seu, the picturesque Tramuntana Mountains, and an array of museums and art galleries.

Adrenaline seekers are also catered for thanks to the rock climbing and kayaking trips on offer, while Magaluf and Palma Nova continue to offer some of the best nightlife in Spain.

In addition to Jet2.com's new link to Majorca, the no-frills airline is also increasing the number of flights to Ibiza it operates from Edinburgh Airport to three per week.

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