Forty chartered flights between Shanghai and Taiwan have been booked during the Chinese lunar new year period at Pudong International Airport, one of Shanghai's two airports.
Chartered flights have been permitted for the first time to flyfrom Taiwan to the Chinese mainland, but via Hong Kong or Macao. The flight will take about four hours and 15 minutes.
The General Administration of Civil Aviation has approved six Taiwan-based airlines to operate the route, including China Airlines, Eva Airways and Foshing Airline.
Approximately 500,000 Taiwanese people live and work in Shanghai. They want a more convenient air transport service to return home during the Spring Festival, a holiday marked by family reunions when all modes of transport are usually busy.
The authorized Taiwanese air companies use Boeing 747, Boeing 757 and A320 aircraft on festive flights, most of which will take place between January 29 and February 8, according to the administration.
(People's Daily January 9, 2003)
|