     |
Cheap one way airfares in Asia"CHEAP ONE WAY AIRFARES"
Can't find what you need? Try a Google Web Search in the box below!
The first planes to fly non-stop between China and Taiwan since the two sides spilt in 1949 after a civil war departed, ferrying Taiwanese businesspeople home for the Lunar New Year holidays. In historic takeoffs, an Air China flight CA1087 left from Beijing on an icy morning at 8:00 am (0000 GMT) bound for Taipei while a China Airlines plane departed the Taiwanese capital for Beijing at the same time. CHEAP ONE WAY AIRFARES A China Southern Airlines aircraft, CZ3097, also left Guangzhou city in southern Guangdong province and was to be the first to land on Taiwanese soil, expected to touch down at 9:30 am to a red-carpet welcome. Accompanied by traditional dragon dancers and drummers, the Air China Boeing 737 was seen off from Beijing Capital International Airport by officials including Taiwan Affairs Office director Chen Yunlin and Air China chairman Li Jiaxiang. CHEAP ONE WAY AIRFARES "These first flights between Beijing and Taipei and Kaoshiung in more than half a century are extraordinary," said Li, who thanked Taiwanese businesspeople for their support. "I hope that there will be direct flights between Taipei and Beijing and Beijing and Kaoshiung on a daily basis." Ironically the airport in Taipei is named after Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek who fled China in 1949 with his nationalist forces in the face of a communist victory in the civil war. Can't find what you need? Try a Google Web Search in the box below!
CHEAP ONE WAY AIRFARES In Taiwan he established a government-in-exile to rival Mao Zedong's People's Republic, which still claims sovereignty over the island and has threatened to invade should it move towards formal independence. Chiang's grandson Zhang Hsiao-yen was in Beijing to see the flight off and said he was optimistic for the future. "Nothing can stop the relations between both sides," he said. "There might be some differences but these differences are covered by the common ground." CHEAP ONE WAY AIRFARES An estimated one million Taiwanese live in China and many of them hope the flights could herald regular direct air and sea services between the rivals. "We want more frequent flights and shorter flying times. I'm looking forward to the day when these flights will be permanent," said one passenger who did not want to be identified. Despite rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan and China reached an agreement this month to allow the first non-stop charter service between January 29 and February 20 during the Chinese New Year holidays. CHEAP ONE WAY AIRFARES Taiwan has banned direct transport links with China since their split in 1949, allowing only air and sea exchanges via third ports, adding hours to the journey. Six Chinese and six Taiwanese airlines will fly 24 round-trips via Hong Kong air space connecting the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan in the New Year period. Despite the historic breakthrough and booming trade across the Taiwan Strait, China made clear this week it did not mean negotiations between the arch rivals had resumed. CHEAP ONE WAY AIRFARES "The Lunar New Year chartered flights are to fully show consideration for the interests of Taiwan compatriots and to make their return home convenient, safe and comfortable," said China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Li Weiyi. "In no way does it mean that cross-strait negotiations have resumed. The current situation between the two sides remains grim." Can't find what you need? Try a Google Web Search in the box below!
CHEAP ONE WAY AIRFARES Ties have been increasingly strained since the re-election of Taiwan's pro-independence President Chen Shui-bian in March last year. Analysts said Saturday's flights did not signal that the tension had relaxed. "I don't think the flights are more than just an ad hoc arrangement," said China expert of City University of Hong Kong, Joseph Cheng. CHEAP ONE WAY AIRFARES "These will be two-way flights not stopping at a third point in between, so you can say it is a slight improvement from two years ago. I think a lot of this has come mainly out of respect for Taiwan businessmen, but also from pressure from the United States." During the Lunar New Year holidays in 2003, six Taiwanese airliners were allowed to fly to Shanghai to pick up Taiwanese businesspeople and take them home via Hong Kong or Macau. There was no similar service in 2004....... Find cheap one way airfares here /cheap airfares home |