The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) has set the schedule for charter flights between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland for the coming Qingming Festival, or the tomb-sweeping festival.

It will be the first cross-Strait charter flights for Qingming, an occasion for Chinese people to pay homage to their ancestors and deceased beloved ones, which falls on April 5 or 6.

A total of 11 airlines from Chinese mainland and Taiwan will fly 42 round trips, mainly on March 30, 31, April 3, 4, 7 and 8, according to the schedule.

The mainland airports in the program are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen, while the airports in Taiwan are Taipei and Kaohsiung.

The airlines have begun to sell tickets, according to CAAC.

Aviation organizations of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan last year agreed to open charter flights for more traditional festivals in addition to the Spring Festival.

The Chinese mainland has called for regular cross-Straits charter flight services that extend beyond festival periods.

(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2007)