LEAD: Taiwan, China agree on Lunar New Year charter flights

Asian Economic News, Jan 18, 2005

MACAO, Jan. 15 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING)

Taiwan and China on Saturday signed a landmark deal here to allow for direct charter flights by both sides during next month's Lunar New Year holiday, officials from both sides said.

The service from Jan. 29 to Feb. 20 will be the first direct flights between China and Taiwan in over 50 years.

The flights are aimed at Taiwan businessmen and their families in China returning home during the holiday period.

The flights from the Chinese mainland will originate from the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, while the China-bound flights from Taiwan will depart from Taipei and Kaohsiung, officials said after winding up a one-day talk in Macao.

A total of 48 flights will be operated by six Taiwanese carriers and six Chinese carriers, said Pu Zhaozhou, executive director of the China Civil Aviation Association, who led the Chinese side. Taiwan and Beijing will each operate 24 two-way flights.

The four-member Taiwan delegation included Lo Ta-Hsing, chairman of the Taipei Airlines Association, and his consultant Chang Kuo-cheng, director general of the Civil Aeronautics Administration.

China views Taiwan as part of its inseparable territory that should be reunited, by force if necessary. Direct sea and air links have been banned between both sides on national security grounds since a civil war ended in 1949.

One-way charter flight services operated by Taiwan carriers were held during the 2003 Lunar New Year holiday, which marked the first Taiwan civilian planes to enter Chinese airspace or land in China with authorization in more than 50 years.

The service was suspended the following year with the Chinese side demanding to take part in the lucrative business.