The first non-stop flights between China and Taiwan in more than five decades are due to start on 29 January after the rivals agreed to temporarily waive restrictions and allow airlines to operate services during the Chinese new year holiday period, writes Nicholas Ionides.
Under the landmark agreement, reached on 15 January, six carriers from each side will operate a combined total of 48 round-trip passenger flights between 29 January and 20 February. Flights are intended to bring Taiwanese business people living in China home for the holidays, allowing them to avoid a traditional transit stop.
China considers Taiwan a renegade province and there have been no non-stop flights since 1949, forcing passengers to make stopovers, normally in Hong Kong or Macau. Airlines from China and Taiwan have long sought to operate to the other side, and hope that the temporary arrangements will eventually become permanent.
Two years ago Taiwanese airlines served China with a handful of charter flights to Shanghai in the Chinese new year holidays. Stopovers were required, however, and Chinese airlines were not given reciprocal rights. This year's agreement is significant in that Chinese airlines are to serve Taiwan for the first time, and flights will be operated on a non-stop basis, although they will be required to pass through Hong Kong airspace.
Flights will operate between the Chinese cities of Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai and the Taiwanese cities of Kaohsiung and Taipei. Chinese designated airlines are Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. Taiwanese carriers are China Airlines, EVA Air, Far Eastern Air Transport, Mandarin Airlines, TransAsia Airways and UNI Airways.
Source: Flight International
