Chinese mainland airlines have begun to sell the tickets for chartered flights to Taiwan during the upcoming Spring Festival in 2006 on the Internet.

Southern Airlines, one of the six carriers from the mainland has arranged a Boeing-777 to carry out the flights between Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong Province, and Taipei.

The organizations of the aviation industries across the Taiwan Straits reached a consensus in November to renew the chartered flights during the upcoming Spring Festival in 2006, based on the successful operation between the two sides last year.

The flights will be undertaken from Jan. 20 to Feb. 13 of 2006.The destinations on the mainland are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen, with Xiamen newly added this year. The cities in Taiwan are Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Apart from Taiwan businessmen and their families, Taiwan residents holding legal certificates of shuttling between the island and the mainland will also be allowed to take flights.

Six airlines from the mainland and six airlines from Taiwan will carry out the flights. Each side will undertake 36 round-tripflights, bringing the total to 72 round-trips.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2005)