First charter flight between Beijing and Taipei takes off
(AP/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-01-25 09:47

The first charter flight of the year between Beijing and Taipei left the mainland's capital on Wednesday, part of the annual Lunar New Year charters between mainland and Taiwan.

Air China Flight 197 took off from Beijing International Airport at 8:46 a.m. (0046 GMT) carrying 100 passengers, including students and businesspeople and their families.

Such flights are now permitted only around the Lunar New Year - or Spring Festival - when tens of thousands of Taiwanese living in mainland head home for the most important holiday of the year.

Travelers usually must make an extra stop, typically in Hong Kong or Macau.

On Wednesday, flight attendants held up a red banner saying "Welcome our Taiwanese compatriots who are returning home." They also gave out gift bags containing the Olympic mascots.

The passengers, some dressed in red for the Lunar New Year, boarded the plane, waving and smiling.

In all, six Taiwanese and six Chinese carriers will operate 72 round-trip charter flights through February 7.