The Chinese mainland and Taiwan will arrange 94 cross-Straits charter flights during the upcoming Spring Festival, China's General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC) said in a circular released on its website on Monday.

The flights will operate from Feb. 2 to Feb. 6 and from Feb. 11 to Feb. 15, the circular said. It was earlier reported 93 flights would be arranged.

The first non-stop chartered flight across the Taiwan Straits was launched during the Chinese Lunar New Year in 2005. The following year, 72 round-trip flights were arranged during the holiday.

This year's Spring Festival, the first day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on Feb. 7. It is the most important festive occasion for Chinese to enjoy family reunions.

Like previous years, 12 airline companies, six from each side, will offer flights during the period. The airports involved include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Taipei and Kaohsiung, according to the CAAC.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2008)