A Chinese mainland official on Friday called for regular chartered flights and direct flights between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a press conference in Beijing that it is very difficult to get tickets of the cross-Straits chartered flights during the forthcoming Spring Festival.

The demand from Taiwan compatriots living in the mainland cannot be met. Regular chartered flights and direct flights should be realized to offer convenience for Taiwan compatriots in the mainland, Li said.

He said the mainland will provide good services for the Spring Festival chartered flights, and push forward the realization of regular chartered flights and direct flights.

Spring Festival, the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important occasion for family reunions. The Spring Festival in 2006 will start on Jan. 29.

Six mainland airline companies have been chosen to operate chartered flights across the Taiwan Straits from Jan. 20 to Feb. 13 of 2006, while six Taiwan-based airlines have announced their plans for direct chartered flights across the Taiwan Straits during the Spring Festival.

Source: Xinhua