First charter flight of the year departs Beijing for Taipei

(25 Jan 2006) SHOTLIST

1. Mid shot of two airport employees holding instruction boards for passengers taking flight to Taipei
2. Wide shot of check-in desks
3. Close-up of billboard showing Air China's flight to Taipei
4. Tilt-up airline clerk explaining details of boarding to passenger
5. Taiwanese passenger finishing check-in
6. Close-up of hands of airline clerk putting sticker on baggage
7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin): Yang Zong Qing, Taiwanese passenger:
"At least now it is much better than normal days. Of course it would be even better if we could fly home directly, but things move forward step by step and we can't expect to realise the direct flight overnight. We just hope the authorities of the both sides can make joint efforts in this direction."
8. Mid shot of Taiwanese passengers waiting at check-in desk
9. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin): Wong Jia Sheng, Taiwanese passenger:
"Now we don't have to wait at the airport in Hong Kong, which saves us two hours and we can arrive in Taiwan in four hours, it's that great! We leave in the morning and by noon we are in Taiwan."
10. Mid pan of Taiwanese couple and child walking in the terminal building
11. Wide shot of Air China plane at the airport
12. Mid shot of Taiwanese passengers boarding the plane
13. Close-up slogan of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
14. Wide shot of plane being towed
15. Close-up of plane being towed
16. Wide shot of plane waiting to take off
17. Close-up of plane taxiing
18. Wide shot of plane taxiing

STORYLINE:

The first charter flight of the year between Beijing and Taipei left the mainland's capital on Wednesday as part of the annual Lunar New Year schedule between the two rivals.

Air China Flight 197 took off from Beijing International Airport at 8:46 a.m. (0046 GMT) carrying 100 passengers, including students and business people and their families.

Such flights are now permitted only around the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, when tens of thousands of Taiwanese living in China head home for the most important holiday of the year.

Before boarding the flight Yang Zong Qing said it would be even better if she could fly home directly.

"But things move forward step by step and we can't expect to realize the direct flight overnight. We just hope the authorities of the both sides can make joint efforts in this direction" she said.

Travellers usually must make an extra stop, typically in Hong Kong or Macau.

"Now we don't have to wait at the airport in Hong Kong, which saves us two hours and we can arrive in Taiwan in four hours, it's that great! We leave in the morning and by noon we are in Taiwan" said one passenger, Wong Jia Sheng.

Travellers were welcomed to the airport by flight attendants holding up a red banner saying "Welcome to our Taiwanese compatriots who are returning home."

They also gave out gift bags containing the Olympic mascots.

The charters began last week, including some from Shanghai, where an estimated 600-thousand Taiwanese live.

In all, six Taiwanese and six Chinese carriers will operate 72 round-trip charter flights up until February 7. Flights this year were expanded to four
Chinese cities with the addition of Xiamen, on the Taiwan Strait directly opposite Taiwan.

This is the third year that such flights have taken place. In a possible sign of further warming of ties, flights were open this time to any Taiwanese holding a mainland travel permit. The 2003 and 2005 charters were limited to Taiwanese living in China. There were no such flights in 2004.

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