Mainland, Taiwan charter flights strike peak before festival (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-01-25 16:34
The charter flights between Chinese mainland and Taiwan
for the traditional Spring Festival, or the Chinese lunar new year that falls on
next Sunday 29, have entered the peak period on Wednesday.
Attendants of
Xiamen Airlines are bidding farewel to Taiwan
compatriots heading for Taiwan for the Spring Festival, which
falls on January 29 this year.
[Xinhua] |
There will be eight round-trip flights by seven airline companies on the
Chinese mainland and Taiwan Wednesday, the most flights since the festival
charter flights were launched on Jan. 20.
A total of 34 round-trip flights are arranged from Jan. 25 to Jan. 27,
including 13 round-trip flights on Thursday and Friday respectively.
After the first mainland-run charter flight for this year's Spring Festival
was operated by the Shanghai Airlines Tuesday, another five mainland airline
companies including Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern
Airlines started their charter flights on Wednesday.
The coastal city of Xiamen, less than five kilometers from Jinmen (or Quemoy)
of Taiwan, became a new destination of charter flights this year. Flight MF 881,
operated by Xiamen Airlines, left from Xiamen for Taipei on Wednesday morning.
During Jan. 25-27 period, 18 round-trip flights will be operated by six
mainland airline companies, and 16 round-trip flights will be run by six Taiwan
airlines.
Among the four mainland destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou
and Xiamen, Shanghai has the most flights with14 round-trip flights flying to or
from the city during the peak period.
After the peak period, the last round-trip flight prior to the Spring
Festival will be operated by a Taiwan company on Jan. 28.
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