BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan has harmed relations across the Taiwan Strait by stalling an application of additional flights across the strait during Spring Festival, said a spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Friday.

Aviation authority on the island has not approved 176 additional flights from China Eastern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines.

The CAAC spokesperson condemned the decision as it disregards the need of people traveling across the strait, especially that of Taiwan compatriots who will go home for the festival.

The Spring Festival, or the New Year according to the lunar Chinese calendar, is the most important holiday in our culture, and we have approved extra flights for the travel peak for more than ten years, said the CAAC spokesperson.

The spokesperson restated that there are no safety concerns involved.