Taiwan’s TransAsia Airways will increase its service between the outlying islands of Penghu and Kinmen from four to seven flights per week starting Aug. 1, it said Friday.The airline announced its new schedule on the first day of a free independent traveler program that allows residents of Fujian Province in southeastern China to make independent visits to Taiwan’s outlying islands of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.

With the new initiative likely to attract more tourists to the islands, TransAsia decided to take advantage of the expected rise in demand by expanding its air service between Penghu’s Magong Airport and Kinmen Airport.The increased number of flights on the 40-minute route between the two islands is also expected to create greater convenience for local residents.

Since the launch of its regular air service on the Penghu-Kinmen route in April, the airline has recorded an average passenger load factor of more than 70 percent, according to TransAsia statistics.Among Taiwan’s domestic airlines, TransAsia operates the most flights between Taiwan proper and the outlying islands, including some 300 weekly flights to Penghu from Taipei and Kaohsuing.Its expanded service is expected to improve the transportation network on the Taipei, Kaohsiung, Penghu and Kinmen routes.