The AAPA is planning to step up efforts to include China's three main carriers as members. It has 17 affiliated airlines, but none from China.
Director general Richard Stirland says bringing in a Chinese member remains a priority. "We've always said we're very keen to have the three major airlines," he says. "We can't claim to represent the region if we don't have those carriers."
The AAPA has tried to convince Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines to join, but none has done so, partly because two airlines from Taiwan are members - China Airlines (CAL) and EVA Air.
There are no diplomatic ties or even direct flights between the two sides. Stirland says political issues may be less of a concern in future, however, as CAL recently joined IATA, which already has several mainland Chinese carriers on its membership list."Procedurally there should not be any obstacles," Stirland says, adding that Chinese carriers have attended AAPA committee meetings as observers over the years.
Source: Airline Business
