By Friday, a total of 1,293 Taiwanese who work or live in the mainland of China had taken two-way flights to Taiwan on chartered aircraft operated by six Taiwan-based airlines since January 26.
Between Dec. 23, 2002, and early January this year, the six airlines applied to operate 16 chartered flights to take Taiwanese business people home for the Chinese traditional Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 1, one of the most important occasions for Chinese families.
The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China approved all these applications.
The first of the mainland-bound flights is due to land at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Feb. 5.
(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2003)
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