Airlines on the Chinese mainland are preparing to start weekend chartered flights across the Taiwan Straits.

Air China will fly the first flight from Beijing next Friday.

The airline has employed experienced flight attendants who speak Minnan dialect to serve on the first group of five planes.

Zhang Chunzhi, General Manager of Air China's marketing department, says the airline has prepared special meals for the fliers on these flights.

"We are trying to embody traditional Chinese culture in our dishes. Meanwhile, our dishes will also appeal to the appetite of the Taiwan customers. For instance, we've prepared some Minnan food."

Altogether, six mainland carriers will fly the weekend charted flights across the Straits. They include Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines.