AVIATION organizations on the Chinese mainland and in Taiwan have agreed to open charter flights for more traditional festivals in addition to the Spring Festival.

Charter flights will be arranged during the Qingming Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, according to the agreement.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced yesterday that the mainland-based Cross-Straits Aviation Transport Exchange Council (CATEC) and the Taipei Airlines Association have reached a consensus on the framework of charter flights for festivals and special cases.

The festival charter flights will be opened during the 14 days around the Spring Festival, and the seven days around the other three festivals, according to the agreement.

Each side will undertake 84 round trips a year, including 48 during the Spring Festival, according to the agreement.

The destinations of the charter flights include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen on the mainland, and Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. All Taiwan residents with valid certificates can take the flights.

Six airline companies on each side will carry out the charter flights. Specific arrangements will follow the operation of the Spring Festival charter flights in 2006, the agreement said.

The two sides also agreed to open charter flights for emergency medical rescue, first aid for the handicapped and charter cargo flights for special needs.

"We welcome any progress in promoting direct, two-way and comprehensive links across the Taiwan Straits, which is of the interests of the Chinese compatriots on both sides," Pu Zhaozhou, director of the CATEC, said yesterday.

The new agreement, however, still cannot meet the demand on direct transportation links from the compatriots on both sides, he added.

"We hope the Taiwan authorities can abide by their pledges and approve talks to make arrangement for weekend or regular charter flights and facilitate cargo flights as soon as possible to satisfy the compatriots' demand," he urged.

A spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council welcomed the agreement and called for the launch of charter flights at weekends or on a regular base and realization of direct air services across the Taiwan Straits.

Direct air links have become an urgent issue facing the cross-Straits exchanges with the development of economic and trade relations between the two sides, said the spokesman.

The first nonstop charter flights across the Taiwan Straits were launched during the Chinese Lunar New Year in 2005. And 72 round trips were arranged during the Spring Festival of 2006.

Qingming, an occasion for Chinese people to pay homage to their ancestors and deceased beloved, falls April 5 or 6.

The Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated by racing dragon boats and eating zongzi, falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, is observed as a day for family reunion.

Editor: Wing