It’s reported yesterday from the Municipal Bureau of Commerce that in August 26th, the National Port Office has approved the Yichang Three Gorges Airport a temporary opening to Japanese and Thai charter passenger flights and extended the South Korean charter passenger flights’ executing time. So far, Yichang has become the city with the largest number of overseas direct flights among the same level cities in central and western China.

　　At present, the Municipal Port Office, together with the Three Gorges Airport, is selecting Japanese and Thai airplanes to execute direct flights, and will promulgate the charter flights of Japan and Thailand to the public in the near future.

　　According to statistics, from January to July in this year, the Three Gorges Airport has completed 106 times of Yichang-South Korea charter flights, with a year-on-year growth of 80%, and has transported 16,566 people leaving and entering China, with a year-on-year growth of 100%, among whom 9,600 are foreign people. So far 8,328 Yichang citizens and mainland residents have got benefits from this non-stop flights. In this year, more direct flights to South Korea have been added such as new routes to Yangyang, Daegu, and Cheongju except previous route to Incheon and Bussan. (Reporter Chen Xi;Correspondent Liu Yali)