Mid-autumn festival charter flights 

Source: CCTV.com

10-01-2006 09:04

It's not only National Day just around the corner also is the Mid-Autumn Festival. As such, cross-strait charter flights are helping bring families together. The first plane landed in Shanghai on Friday with more airlines taking off for this annual holiday.

The festive mood at airports is extending from Chinese New Year to other traditional holidays. In Xiamen and Guangzhou, China Southern Airlines is welcoming passengers for the Mid-Autumn Festival travel. Special service is offered on all the cross-strait charter flights.

Liu Zhizhi from China Southern Airlines said, "We chose our most qualified staff for the flights. We also have special arrangements with customs and security departments to ensure that all flights leave on time. "

Six airlines from each side of the Taiwan strait will operate round-trip flights between Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Taipei, and Kaohsiung.

Previous flights were limited to Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year.

Now service will include Tomb-Sweeping Day and the Dragon Boat Festival, a big improvement in cross-strait transportation.

Taiwan Passenger said, “:The charter flight is enhancing the communications between the mainland and Taiwan. People from the mainland can travel to Taiwan more easily, while Taiwan people can visit their relatives more often as well.”

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional day for family reunion.

This year it coincides with the week-long National Day holidays.

Aviation industries on both sides of the straits have prepared for a surge in passenger numbers.

Editor:Sun Luying