A CHINA Eastern Airlines passenger plane took off from the Pudong International Airport at 2:06 pm Saturday (Feb 4), marking the resumption of cross-Straits direct charter flights after the Spring Festival holidays.

The passenger plane, with 244 people aboard, was heading for Taipei and was to return to Shanghai at 9 p.m., carrying 282 passengers.

According to the city's civil aviation administration, Shanghai witnessed six direct chartered flights shuttling between the city and Taiwan.

Direct charter flights between Guangzhou and Taiwan also resumed Saturday.

A Boeing 737 plane owned by Taiwan-based Maindrain Airlines departed Taipei at 9a.m. Saturday and landed at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 11a.m. The return flight left Guangzhou at 12:10p.m. and arrived in Taipei at 2p.m.

China Southern Airlines also operated two flights between Guangzhou and Taipei on Saturday.

Editor: Wing