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Shanghai air charter leaves for Taipei
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-01-24 15:23 A Boeing 767 left Shanghai
for Taipei on Tuesday morning, the first mainland-run chartered flight to the
island for the Spring Festival, or the Chinese lunar new year which falls on
Jan. 29.
Flight FM 807 of Shanghai Airlines took off from Shanghai Pudong
International Airport at 9:10 a.m., carrying 251 Taiwan compatriots, including
two on wheelchairs and three unaccompanied children, airlines sources told
Xinhua.
Before the takeoff, a group of stewardesses dressed in Chinese-style gowns
and red uniforms welcomed the passengers at the entrance of the cabin, speaking
Mandarin and the southern Fujian dialect that is widely spoken in Taiwan.
"It's an honorable mission to pilot the flight to Taiwan," said Ding Xingguo,
vice-president of Shanghai Airlines who also piloted the first Spring Festival
charter flight to Taiwan last year and therefore became the first mainland pilot
to land in Taiwan in 56 years.
"The weather report said it's windy in Taipei, but I'll do whatever I can to
fly well," he told Xinhua in an exclusive interview before the takeoff.
During the 2.5-hour flight, the airlines would present the passengers with
gifts, which include cardcases with dainty make-up patterns featuring Beijing
Opera, Chinese-style dolls and small drums, balls and lanterns symbolizing good
luck and festivity.
The crew also celebrated the birthday of two passengers, Gu Qiujie and Jiang
Xianming, with cakes, greeting cards and a chorus of "Happy Birthday to You"
which was joined by everyone on board.
The flight is due to arrive in Taipei at 11:45 a.m. and the return flight on
Tuesday afternoon will take 154 Taiwan compatriots to Shanghai.
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