Mainland and Taiwanese airlines operated 42 charter flights during the 2007 Qingming Festival, carrying 7,000 passengers, according to the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC).

During the Qingming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Festival, which was on April 5, Chinese people honor their ancestors or deceased relatives.

Eleven airlines from the mainland and Taiwan flew 21 round trips on March 30, 31, April 3, 4, 7 and 8, according to the Administration.

The mainland airports that operated the flights were in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen, while the two in Taiwan were Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Aviation organizations on the Chinese mainland and Taiwan last year agreed to begin charter flights for other traditional festivals in addition to the Spring Festival, but regular charter flights across the Strait yet to be realized.

The first non-stop charter flights across the Taiwan Strait were launched for Chinese Lunar New Year in 2005, the first direct air flights across the Taiwan Strait in more than five decades.

Editor: Donald