Mainland civil aviation authorities are expected to approve all applications for the landmark scheme in the coming days.

After granting the first approval to Far Eastern Air Transport Corp (FAT) on Friday, the government departments concerned are processing applications from Taiwan's remaining five airlines, according to a senior official with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC).

"Their applications will be approved immediately once the relevant documents are provided." the official said.

The CAAC official, who declined to be named, confirmed that the FAT, the first to file the application, was given the green light on Friday to operate the Shanghai-Taipei indirect charter flights via Hong Kong or Macao between January 26 and February 10.

The FAT has scheduled six round-trip runs on January 27, 28 and 29 and February 5, 6 and 7 for the forthcoming Spring Festival holidays, which fall around February 1.

The other five Taiwanese airlines that have lodged the applications include China Airlines, Mandarin Airlines, EVA Airways Corp, Transasia Airways Corp and UNI Airways.

These airlines have agreed to operate flights to pick up Taiwanese businessmen and their families working and living on the mainland for family reunions during the traditional Chinese lunar New Year.

Some 1,500 Taiwanese businessmen and their family members have reportedly registered for the charter flight plan.

Taipei has a decades-old ban on trade, transport and postal services - dubbed three direct links - across the Straits.

But Kuomintang "lawmaker" John Chang, initiator of the charter flight proposal, reportedly said he will push for further flights for this year's Mid-Autumn Festival or next year's Spring Festival.

Chang said next time it would be "necessary" for mainland airlines to operate some of the charter services and the plan envisages no stopover in Hong Kong or Macao, according to Taiwanese media reports.

Echoing Chang's views, the CAAC official also stressed Beijing hopes for the eventual establishment of safe, convenient, economical and direct transport links between the mainland and Taiwan in the best interests of Taiwan compatriots.

(China Daily January 7, 2003)