Air China arranged a total of 1,624 charter flights during the upcoming Spring Festival, according to a source from China's flag carrier Friday.

The added and charter flights grew 34 percent compared with the previous Spring Festival period, with some 239,000 more seats provided.

Air China added destinations mainly to provincial capitals and tourism cities. The charter flights to Taiwan will be operated from January 20 to February 15, including five flights from Beijing to Taipei and one flight from Beijing to Gaoxiong.

A special office was established to supervise the Spring Festival transportation situation. Air China will also step up safe education, flight operation criteria and the protection of equipment.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2006)