A Boeing 767 left Shanghai for Taipei on Tuesday morning, the
first mainland-run chartered flight to the island for the
Spring Festival, or the Chinese lunar new year which falls on
January 29.
Flight FM 807 of Shanghai Airlines took off from Shanghai Pudong
International Airport at 9:10 AM carrying 251 Taiwan compatriots,
including two on wheelchairs and three unaccompanied children,
airlines sources told Xinhua.
Before the takeoff, a group of stewardesses dressed in
Chinese-style gowns and red uniforms welcomed the passengers at the
entrance of the cabin, speaking Mandarin and the southern Fujian
dialect that is widely spoken in Taiwan.
"It's an honorable mission to pilot the flight to Taiwan," said
Ding Xingguo, vice-president of Shanghai Airlines who also piloted
the first Spring Festival charter flight to Taiwan last year and
therefore became the first mainland pilot to land in Taiwan in 56
years.
"The weather report said it's windy in Taipei, but I'll do
whatever I can to fly well," he told Xinhua in an exclusive
interview before the takeoff.
During the 2.5-hour flight, the airlines would present the
passengers with gifts, which include cardcases with dainty make-up
patterns featuring Beijing Opera, Chinese-style dolls and small
drums, balls and lanterns symbolizing good luck and festivity.
The crew also celebrated the birthday of two passengers, Gu
Qiujie and Jiang Xianming, with cakes, greeting cards and a chorus
of "Happy Birthday to You" which was joined by everyone on
board.
The flight is due to arrive in Taipei at 11:45?AM and the
return flight on Tuesday afternoon will take 154 Taiwan compatriots
to Shanghai.
(China Daily January 25, 2006)