The Cross-Strait Aviation Transport Exchange Council of the Chinese mainland yesterday invited the Taipei Airlines Association to discuss opening nonstop charter flights, especially during the Spring Festival period.
In a message to Taipei Airlines' Chairman Tony Fan, vice president of the council Pu Zhaozhou invited Fan and members of thee TAA to hold direct talks with the council as early as possible on technical and business issues of opening passenger and cargo charter flights.
"Realizing direct air links across the Taiwan Strait is the common aspiration of compatriots on both sides. It is also a necessity due to fast growing travel and economic relationships across the strait," the message reads.
It calls for adopting "flexible, practical and effective" measures to facilitate the early opening of direct air links across the strait, with the emphasis on promoting nonstop passenger and cargo flights at present.
"In this field, the mainland side has made a lot of positive effort," says the message.
It mentions that the council has sent messages twice to the TAA on holding direct talks as early as possible about opening passenger and cargo flights across the strait after the success of similar flights during Chinese lunar New Year in February.
The proposed talks aim to promote the launch of passenger charter flights on holidays, weekends and regularize such flights and the launching of cargo charter flights with equal participation by air carriers on both sides.
(Xinhua)