Landmark cross-Straits flights to take off
By Cao Zhe (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-01-29 01:28

Chinese mainland airliners are scheduled to touch down at Taiwan's airports on Saturday for the first time in 56 years in accordance with the charter flights plan made between the two sides following long negotiations.

Air China attendants rehearse short programs to entertain passengers on nonstop flights across the Taiwan Straits during the Spring Festival in Beijing January 27, 2005. [newsphoto]

Six airlines from Taiwan Province will also make the flights between the mainland cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Taiwan's two biggest cities, Taipei and Kaohsiung starting from the same day until February 20.

The direct, non-stop charter flights are specially arranged for Taiwan business people on the mainland to be reunited with their families for the Chinese Lunar New Year, the most important Chinese festival which falls on February 9 this year.

China Southern Airlines flight CZ3097, which is scheduled to take off from Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong Province at 8:00 am on Saturday, will become the first mainland carrier to land in Taiwan since 1949.

China Airlines, which plans to use A330-300 aircraft for the first flight from Taipei, is expected to become the first Taiwan carrier landing in the nation's capital. The first flight is scheduled to land at the Beijing Capital International Airport at 12:20 pm on Saturday.

Mainland airlines including Air China, China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines and Xiamen Airlines made full preparations for the historical flights to ensure the safety, comfort and convenience of the Taiwan compatriots.

Millions of Taiwan business people and their relatives will benefit from the charter flights.

Close

Today's Top News     Top China News
Nonstop charter flights to start tomorrow         China to buy 60 Boeing 7E7 at $7.2b: report         China marks Jiang's speech on Taiwan issue         Lenovo: IBM deal on despite challenges         List of bribers helps corruption battle         Group of Seven to talk about the yuan	Financial woes greet released hostages       List of bribers helps corruption battle       Blood bank for pandas on the way       White collar gang flees with big public cash       Forum ponders post-tsunami reconstruction       Rail stations to be linked by metro line