First Chinese direct flight to Taipei
Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) For the first time in 56 years a direct flight from mainland China to Taiwan landed at Taipei International Airport carrying Taiwanese businessmen from Guangzhou. Air China flight CZ3097 took off at 8 am and landed at 9:30 am (local time).
Chief pilot Hao Jianhua said the day before: "We will break the 56-year-long isolation between civil aviation sectors across the Strait in only 100 minutes".
Passengers are hopeful that direct flights will become the norm and will not be limited to special Chinese New Year. However, the agreement between China and Taiwan is limited to Taiwanese and Taiwanese families for the period January 29-February 20. All flights are already booked.
Before it, a stopover in either Hong Kong or Macau was necessary turning a 1.5 hour flight into one that lasted 6-to-7 hours.
Beijing Deputy Mayor Zhang Mao said: "Our Taiwan friends can now fly directly back home for the Lunar New Year, lessening their inconvenience. We are happy".
The flights are a special dispensation for Taiwanese investors who are described by China as 'Taiwanese compatriots'.
Cross-straits trade is booming and it is estimated that Taiwanese investment on the mainland has reached up to US$ 100 billion.
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23/01/2006
