Charter flights take 1,300 Taiwanese home for New Near
( 2003-02-01 11:25 ) (7 )

Some 1,293 Taiwanese living in Chinese mainland have taken two-way flights to Taiwan on chartered aircraft operated by six Taiwan-based airlines, authorised for the first time to land in Chinese mainland, state media reported Friday.

The flights stopped in Hong Kong or Macau, completing the Shanghai-Taipei flight in close to five hours, about one and a half hours longer than a direct flight.

The first charter flight to head back to the mainland will arrive in Shanghai on February 5 after the Lunar New Year period.

The Taipei government has so far refused to reestablish direct transport, trade and postage and ties with the mainland, despite urgings from Beijing.