After a decade of talks Japan and Taiwan have finally reached an agreement on increased air services, including clearance for a Taiwanese carrier to operate directly into Osaka for the first time in quarter century.
Under the deal, Taiwan's EVA Airways will be allowed daily flights into Osaka/Kansai airport from Taipei, with Japan's All Nippon Airways operating similar frequency between the two cities. The Osaka flights are expected to start early next year. The revised treaty was due to be signed in late November.
The new accord brings with it a number of political implications as airlines from Taiwan and mainland China will operate into the same Japanese airport for the first time. Currently, Taiwan's China Airlines operates to Tokyo but uses the domestic terminal at Haneda, while Chinese airlines fly to the international facility at Narita.
China Airlines had abandoned its flights to Japan in 1973 after Tokyo shifted diplomatic recognition to Beijing. The airline reopened services to Tokyo and Okinawa in 1975, later adding Fukuoka. EVA, meanwhile, operates daily services to Fukuoka.
Under the new agreement, both carriers can increase frequencies on existing services and add other destinations, including Hiroshima, Kagoshima, Sapporo, Miyazaki and Ishigaki. The two carriers are keen to add capacity due to heavy traffic growth between their countries.
Talks on updating the 25-year-old bilateral had been stalled due to sensitivities with mainland China. Japan was said to be waiting for final clearance from Beijing before agreeing to the revised treaty in October.
Tom Ballantyne
Source: Airline Business
