No limit on extra cross-Strait New Year flights

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland and Taiwan have agreed to set no limit on the number of cross-Strait flights added during the Spring Festival so as to better deal with the travel rush, a mainland spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

"Extra cross-Strait flights are scheduled to be in operation between January 17 and February 14," said Fan Liqing of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

The number of added flights would see a rise at destinations with concentrated demand, Fan said.

For example, mainland-based and Taiwan-based airlines are set to each operate 105 extra flights during the period at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, more than double the figure from the previous year.

Meanwhile, the removal of number restriction is expected to allow many extra cross-Strait flights to serve Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, according to Fan.

She expressed hope that the additional flights will help Chinese living and working on the either side to celebrate the arrival of the Chinese lunar New Year, which falls on January 31 next year, with their family members and to stabilize ticket prices.