Cross-Straits air fares can be reduced, a Chinese mainland Taiwan affairs spokesman said Wednesday.

Yang Yi, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the mainland will tell carriers on both sides of the Straits that some mainland and Taiwan travelers believe cross-Straits flights are too expensive.

He said fares might be high because of the annual travel peak during the Spring Festival period, which usually starts in mid- to late January.

Yang said air fares could be cheaper because direct flights between the mainland and Taiwan were shorter and cost less to run than flights under the old system, which had to detour through other locations.

Currently, a return ticket from Beijing to Taiwan costs about 4,000 yuan (588 U.S. dollars). There is usually no discount for air tickets during the Spring Festival.

Tourists from 12 additional provinces on the mainland were permitted to travel to Taiwan starting Tuesday. Previously mainland residents from only 13 provinces and municipalities were allowed to visit Taiwan on charter flights, according to the mainland-based Cross-Strait Tourism Communication Association.

The number of airports that handle cross-Straits charter flights has increased from five to 21, the association said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2009)