Air China will use its specially designed aircraft, painted with Beijing Olympic logo, on direct chartered flights across the Taiwan Straits during the Spring Festival in 2006.

As one of the 2008 Olympic partners, Air China has painted some of its jetliners with the Games slogan "One World One Dream" and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games logo.

Passengers on board will be presented with related gifts such as Olympic mascots and souvenirs.

The first charter flight by Air China is scheduled to take off on Jan. 20, 2006.

The average price for the chartered flights across the Straits charged by mainland airline companies is a little higher than last year.

Air China's one-way and two-way tickets for business class are priced at 3,100 yuan (US$385) and 4,800 yuan (US$600) respectively for Beijing-Taipei routes.

Air China had removed the Chinese flag from their airplanes during the flights to Taiwan last year, so as not to raise a politically sensitive issue.

(CRIENGLISH.com December 12, 2005)