Airlines on China's mainland will provide the country's best aircraft to serve passengers flying to and from Taiwan during the upcoming Spring Festival, said a senior Chinese official Wednesday.

Detailed service plans are being made to provide warm and considerate service to Taiwan passengers on the charter flights, said Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council at his regularly scheduled news conference.

Authorities have approved six mainland airlines to provide charter flights during the 2006 lunar New Year. Four Taiwan-based airlines have been granted the right to fly to the mainland during the busiest travel season in Asia, he said.

The best aircraft and crews will serve passengers and ticket reservations have been made more convenient. Special boarding services and emergency plans have also been prepared.

The mainland hopes the flights to Taiwan for passengers and freight will follow the model of the 2005 Spring Festival charter flights, said Li.

The special Spring Festival charter flights between Taiwan and the Chinese are scheduled from Jan. 20 to Feb. 13 next year.

Along with Taiwan business people and their families, Taiwan residents holding appropriate travel documents will be allowed to take the flights. These conditions are part of an agreement reached by the civil aviation associations in Taiwan and the mainland.

In all there will be 72 round trip flights between Taiwan and the mainland with airlines in each region providing half the flights.

Flights to the mainland will land in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and for the first time Xiamen. The charter flights will also service Taipei and Kaohsiung.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2005)