Shanghai-based airlines and Xiamen Airlines were fully prepared for direct flights to Taiwan during the Spring Festival period, Xinhua News Agency and the China Daily reported Saturday.

Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines had sealed a deal with a Taiwan carrier, China Airlines, to cooperate in ground services and maintenance at airports, said Luo Chaogeng, general manager of China Eastern Airlines.

If the direct flights were approved, China Eastern Airlines would employ its best carriers, Airbus A 340-600 for the charter flights, Luo said. Luo also promised the best staff for the flights.

Shanghai Airlines also said it was fully prepared for the direct flights. It introduced planes suitable for Taiwan flights years ago, said a Shanghai Airlines spokesperson.

This year, about 400,000 Taiwan businesspeople and their relatives are expected to travel to Shanghai and neighboring areas for the traditional holidays.

Meanwhile, Fujian-based Xiamen Airlines had won approval to fly over Hong Kong's air traffic control area for its planned charter flights across the Taiwan Straits, Saturday's China Daily reported.

The approval means Xiamen Airlines can conduct the flights as long as the Taiwan authorities allow mainland planes to land on the island.

The 70-minute flights would detour through Guangzhou and Hong Kong air control areas for the 600-kilometer journey, landing at Taipei or Kaohsiung. A return fare would cost about 1,600 yuan (US$193), the price of a single ticket from Xiamen to Hong Kong.

"We are very happy to see that Beijing has been actively pushing direct charter flights across the Straits, which will make it easier for Taiwanese business people on the mainland," said Wu Jinzhong, president of Xiamen Taiwanese Enterprises Association.

"Taiwanese people attach a lot of importance to the Spring Festival," he said. "We really hope that the Taiwan authorities take into consideration the interests of mainland-based Taiwanese businesspeople and make favorable decisions."

There are more than 3,000 Taiwanese in Xiamen.

In another development, a Kuomintang delegation departed for Beijing on Sunday to discuss allowing direct charter flights across the Taiwan Straits during the Spring Festival holidays, according to China News Service.

John Chang, head of the delegation, said the group would meet with mainland civil aeronautics officials Monday to discuss direct charter flights.

Air exchanges across the Taiwan Straits have previously been routed through Hong Kong, Macao or other ports.

Editor: Catherine