Bangkok--19 Jun--eturbonews
Taiwan and China have recently agreed to launch direct charter passenger flights during major holidays of the year, in addition to the Spring Festival. China's General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC) shared that the mainland-based Cross-Straits Aviation Transport Exchange Council and the Taipei Airlines Association have reached a consensus on the framework of chartered flights for festivals and special cases.
Chartered flights will be arranged for during Qingming, or the tomb-sweeping festival, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, besides the Chinese Lunar new year season, according to the agreement. The festival chartered flights will be opened during the 14 days around the Spring Festival, and the seven days around the other festivals, according to the agreement. Each side will undertake 84 round flights, including 48 during the Spring Festival.
Taiwan's Joseph Wu, chairman of the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council, shared that the flights would be launched for four annual holidays: Lunar Chinese New Year, Tomb Sweeping Day, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid Autumn Festival.
Taiwan has banned regular direct flights between the two sides since they split in 1949 when the Communist took over the mainland and this island began resisting Beijing's rule.
But, of late, it is being said that the Taiwanese government had come under pressure to launch direct air links because an estimated three million Taiwanese travel to China each year for business or sightseeing.
Direct air links have become an urgent issue facing the cross-Straits exchanges with the development of economic and trade relations between the two sides.
The destinations of the chartered flights include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen on the mainland, and Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. All Taiwan residents, businessmen and their relatives with valid certificates can take the flights. Six airline companies on each side will carry out the chartered flights. Specific arrangements will follow the operation of the Spring Festival chartered flights in 2006, the agreement said.
"We welcome any progress in promoting direct, two-way and comprehensive links across the Taiwan Straits, which is of the interests of the Chinese compatriots on both sides," Pu Zhaozhou, director of the Cross-Straits Aviation Transport Exchange Council said. "Our sincerity to promote direct air links between the mainland and Taiwan has never changed. The new agreement, however, still cannot meet the demand on direct transportation links from the compatriots on both sides. We hope the Taiwan authorities can abide by their pledges and approve talks to make arrangement for weekend or regular chartered flights and facilitate cargo flights as soon as possible to satisfy the compatriots' demand," he said.
As per the information available, the Taiwanese have said that the direct flights posed a serious security threat, but improvements in radar technology have lessened the danger. The rivals have held talks with China over the past year, using private airline representatives as negotiators because there's no official contact between the two governments.
The first non-stop chartered flights across the Taiwan Straits was launched during the Chinese lunar new year in 2005. And 72 round flights were arranged during the Spring Festival of 2006. Qingming, an occasion for Chinese people to pay homage to their ancestors and deceased beloved ones, falls on April 5 or 6. The Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated by racing dragon boats, falls on the fifth day of the fifth Lunar month. The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the eight Lunar month, is observed as a day for family reunion.