The number of charter flights between the mainland and Taiwan peaked on Wednesday with the fast approaching Chinese lunar New Year on January 29.

 

Eight round trips provided by seven airlines were made, the most since festival charter flights came into service on January 20.

 

But numbers are set to continue soaring on Thursday and Friday, which will each have 13 round trips. A total of 34 round-trip flights were scheduled between January 25 and 27, 18 flights operated by six mainland airline companies, and 16 run by six Taiwan airlines.

 

Shanghai Airlines had first take-off on Tuesday, followed by Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines that started their charter flights on Wednesday.

 

The coastal city of Xiamen is a new charter flight destination. Xiamen Airlines flight MF 881, left Xiamen for Taipei on Wednesday morning.

 

Among the four mainland destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen, Shanghai is the busiest with14 flights flying to or from the city during this peak period.

 

The last flight prior to the Spring Festival will be operated by a Taiwan airline on January 28.

 

 

 

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2006)