On January 12, Air China said it would operate special charter flights to Taiwan during next month's Lunar New Year holiday.

There are no regularly scheduled flights between the mainland and Taiwan, but since 2003 charter flights have been allowed during the Lunar New Year, and last year that was expanded to include the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.

China's flag carrier will operate seven return flights to Taipei and one return flight to Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan between February 14 and February 26, said a person in Air China's marketing department.

He said anyone could buy tickets, but most of the customers are expected to be Taiwanese planning to spend the Lunar New Year with their families in Taiwan.