EVA Air is seeking approval from the Taiwanese government to perform heavy maintenance on mainland China-registered aircraft.
Taiwan's number two carrier says it has applied for approval, and the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) has indicated it is not opposed to it. Approval is needed from Taiwan's transport ministry and other government agencies.
"We are submitting a proposal to the government and are waiting for further instructions," EVA says.
"The CAA has already stated that they are happy to see mainland Chinese carriers fly to Taiwan for maintenance on their aircraft. The ministry of transport and other security departments need to give approval," it adds.
If go-ahead is secured, it will represent another sign of warming relations between Taiwan and China. China considers Taiwan a renegade province, and there have been no direct flights between the two for more than 50 years.
EVA says the chairman of Shanghai Airlines visited its maintenance arm, Evergreen Aviation Technologies in July, as the airline would like to have Boeing 767s maintained by the division.
Source: Flight International
