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Mainland and Taiwanese airlines are competing for a larger slice of Spring Festival charter flights pie by offering quality service to lure passengers.

Discounted ticket prices are also a way to attract passengers.

Under a preferential package offered by China Southern Airlines based in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, if a passenger flies aboard a China Southern plane from another mainland city to GuangZhou and then to Taiwan, also on a China Southern flight, the first leg of the trip is free.

A one-way economy class ticket for the Guangzhou-Taipei flight costs 800 yuan (US$96), while round-trip tickets range from 1,380 yuan (US$ 166) to 2,980 yuan (US$359).

Some of the other companies involved also offered 30 per cent discounts on tickets for flights on January 29, the first day of the charter flights.

Dressed in traditional Chinese costumes, air attendants on the China Eastern flights provided their passengers with Taiwan-flavoured delicacies.

They also presented some souvenirs to those aboard, including porcelain wares and perfumes.

Xiamen Airlines, headquartered in East China's Fujian Province, tried to get close to the passengers by asking its air attendants to speak southern Fujian dialect, which can also be regarded as Taiwan dialect.

Wulong tea, which is popular among Fujian and Taiwan people, is also on the airlines' cabin service list.

Air China, the nation's flag carrier, also highlighted their services by providing entertainment during the flight.

Air attendants wearing traditional costumes specially designed for the charter flights, tried to create a festive atmosphere by preparing a lot of decorations in the cabin.

A chorus and saxophone soloist entertained the passengers and made them feel at home on the four-hour flight from Beijing to Taipei.