Xiamen Airport considers tie-in with Taiwan airlines
13 May 2008
[photopress:air_xiamen_International_airport.jpg,full,alignright]China's Xiamen International Airport Group has said it is considering partnerships with Taiwan carriers in the hope that working together the two sides could establish regular weekly flights. The airport, located in southeast China's Fujian province just across from Taiwan, is looking at various options, including transforming itself into an air cargo hub for flights to Taiwan. However, we are still at the tentative stage. It has not yet entered into concrete negotiations with air companies from Taiwan. The state-owned airport group was well positioned for closer cooperation with Taiwanese carriers as it had been taking chartered flights between Taiwan and the mainland for years. The incoming government of Taiwan president-elect Ma Ying-jeou seems to be leaning towards July 4 for the start of the first regular direct charter flights between China and Taiwan in this new relationship. Currently, only holiday services are allowed on passenger charter flights, and cargo flights are conducted on a case-by-case basis. Soon — how soon and by whom remains to be decided — there will be regular flights. It will come as no surprise to anyone that American airlines are demanding that they be allowed in on this route citing the open skies policy. Logic tells us this is unlikely.
Source: AFP
