The charter flights between Chinese mainland and Taiwan for the traditional Spring Festival, or the Chinese lunar new year that falls on next Sunday 29, have entered the peak period on Wednesday.

There will be eight round-trip flights by seven airline companies on the Chinese mainland and Taiwan Wednesday, the most flights since the festival charter flights were launched on Jan. 20.

A total of 34 round-trip flights are arranged from Jan. 25 to Jan. 27, including 13 round-trip flights on Thursday and Friday respectively.

After the first mainland-run charter flight for this year's Spring Festival was operated by the Shanghai Airlines Tuesday, another five mainland airline companies including Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines started their charter flights on Wednesday.

The coastal city of Xiamen, less than five kilometers from Jinmen (or Quemoy) of Taiwan, became a new destination of charter flights this year. Flight MF 881, operated by Xiamen Airlines, left from Xiamen for Taipei on Wednesday morning.

During Jan. 25-27 period, 18 round-trip flights will be operated by six mainland airline companies, and 16 round-trip flights will be run by six Taiwan airlines.

Among the four mainland destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen, Shanghai has the most flights with14 round-trip flights flying to or from the city during the peak period.

After the peak period, the last round-trip flight prior to the Spring Festival will be operated by a Taiwan company on Jan. 28.

Stewardesses of China Southern Airlines wait for passengers before the company's first chartered flight for Taiwan this year take off in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, January 25, 2006. Seven Taiwan and mainland airlines operated eight round-trip charter flights Wednesday, the fifth day of this year's charter scheme. The flights went between Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen on the mainland, and Taipei and Kaohsiung on the island. The non-stop cross-Straits charters will run until February 7. [Xinhua]

Guo Mei (R), stewardess of the mainland's Xiamen Airlines, and Zeng Yingying, stewardess of Taiwan's TransAsia Airways chat at an airport in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, January 25, 2006. Seven Taiwan and mainland airlines operated eight round-trip charter flights Wednesday, the fifth day of this year's charter scheme. The flights went between Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen on the mainland, and Taipei and Kaohsiung on the island. The non-stop cross-Straits charters will run until February 7. [Xinhua] 
 

Stewardesses of Air China show off Beijing Olympic mascots before this year's first chartered flight from Beijing to Taiwan take off at the Capital International Airport in Beijing, January 26, 2006. The mascots are gifts for the passengers of the non-stop cross-Straits flights. Seven Taiwan and mainland airlines operated eight round-trip charter flights Wednesday, the fifth day of this year's charter scheme. The flights went between Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen on the mainland, and Taipei and Kaohsiung on the island. The non-stop cross-Straits charters will run until February 7. [Xinhua]

Air China stewardesses wave goodbye to a plane taking off for Taiwan in Beijing, January 25, 2006. Seven Taiwan and mainland airlines operated eight round-trip charter flights Wednesday, the fifth day of this year's charter scheme. The flights went between Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen on the mainland, and Taipei and Kaohsiung on the island. The non-stop cross-Straits charters will run until February 7. [Xinhua]

Editor: Yan